THE CR&CQDJLE. 



Usual haunts Voracity Cunning. 



asserted by various writers, that both their jaws 

 are movable ; a single glance, however, at their 

 skeleton, will afford sufficient proof that the up- 

 per jaw is fixed, and that the motion is altogether 

 confined to the under jaw. They are also gene- 

 rally believed to have no tongue ; this again is 

 an error, for the tongue in both species is larger 

 than even that of the ox ; but it is so connected 

 with the sides of the lower jaw as to be inca- 

 pable of being stretched far forwards, as in other 

 animals. 



Crocodiles, (which in various parts of Asia 

 and Africa attain the amazing length of twenty- 

 five feet and upwards,) chiefly haunt such large 

 rivers as the Niger, Ganges, Nile, or near the 

 sea shore; they are exceedingly voracious, yet 

 capable of sustaining abstinence for many weeks 

 together. Except when pressed by hunger, or 

 with a view of depositing their eggs, they seldom, 

 leave the water. Their usual method is to float 

 upon the surface, and seize whatever animals 

 come within their reach ; but when this method 

 fails, they then go closer to the bank. The art- 

 ful creature there waits in patient expectation of 

 some land animal that may come to drink ; the 

 dog, the bull, the tiger, or man himself. No- 

 thing is to be seen on the approach, nor its re- 

 treat discovered till it is too late for safety. It 

 seizes the victim with a spring, and goes at a 

 bound much farther than such an unwieldy 

 animal could be supposed to do. Then having 



TOL. vi. NO. 38. c 



