278 CROCODILES. 



snare for it. He trembles at every noise, but lie fears, 

 above all, the loud shouts of man. In spite of his 

 strength, a bold attack strikes him with terror, &c. 



This granted, if we add, or rather if we recollect, 

 that the water is the true element of the crocodile, we 

 shall have, I think, all that is needful to bring into 

 accord the apparently contradictory statements of the 

 travellers and naturalists whose opinions have been 

 reported in the preceding chapter. 



VI. ALL ARE AGREED. 



FIRST of all, we must put the gavial aside altogether. 

 It appears certain that he has been defamed by those 

 who have made a cannibal of him. It is sufficient to 

 see his slender snout to be convinced that he could 

 never take such a prey as man. All modern travellers 

 are in opposition to their predecessors on this point, 

 and assure us that they respect man, and have a like 

 regard for large animals. But, in acquitting the gavial, 

 they charge the crocodile. This is the one which is 

 the author of the misdeeds attributed to the gavial. 



Julian had already remarked that in the Ganges there 

 are two kinds of crocodiles, the one gentle and innocent, 

 the other cruel. This remark is correct. The inno- 

 cent crocodiles are the gavials ; the cruel belong to ono 

 or other of two species, one of which is the crocodile 



