296 



HISTORY OF FROGS, LIZARDS, AND SERPENTS. 



HS wide as they could be, was fifteen inches 

 and a half; this is a very wide yawn, and 

 could easily enough take in the body of a man. 

 The colour of the body was of a dark brown 

 on the upper part, and of a whitish citron 

 below, with large spots of both colours on the 

 sides. From the shoulders to the extremity of 

 the tail, the animal was covered with large 

 scales, of a square form, disposed like parallel 

 girdles, and fifty-two in number ; but those 

 near the tail were not so thick as the rest. 

 The creature was covered not only with these, 

 but all over with a coat of armour; which, 

 however, was not proof against a musket-ball, 

 contrary to what has been commonly asserted : 

 however, it must be confessed, that the attitude 

 in which the animal was placed, might 

 contribute to render the skin more penetra- 

 ble ; for, probably, if the ball had struck 

 obliquely against the shell it would have 

 flown off. Those parts of the girdles un- 

 derneath the belly were of a whitish colour, 

 and were made up of scales of divers shapes, 

 but not so hard as those on the back. 



With respect to the internal parts of the 

 animal, the gullet was large in proportion to 

 the mouth ; and a ball of wood, as large as 

 one's head, readily ran down, and was drawn 

 up again. The guts were but short, in com- 

 parison, being not so long as the animal's 

 body. The tongue, which some have errone- 

 ously asserted this animal was without, con- 

 sisted of a thick, spongy, soft flesh, and was 

 strongly connected to the lower jaw. The 

 heart was of the size of a calf's, of a bright 

 red colour, the blood passing as well from the 

 veins to the aorta as into the lungs. There 

 was no bladder ; but the kidneys sent the 

 urine to be discharged by the anus. There 

 were sixty-two joints in the back-bone, which, 

 though very closely united, had sufficient play 

 to enable the animal to bend like a bow to the 

 right and the left; so that what we hear of es- 

 caping the creature by turning out of the right 

 line, and of the animal not being able to wheel 

 readily after its prey, seems to be fabulous. 

 It is most likely the crocodile can turn with 

 ease, for the joints of its back are not stiffer 

 than those of other animals, which we know, 

 by experience, can wheel about very nimbly 

 lor their size. 



Such is the figure and conformation of this 

 formidable animal, that unpeoples countries, 

 and makes the most navigable rivers desert 

 and dangerous. They are seen, in some 

 places, lying for whole hours, and even days, 

 stretched in the sun, and motionless ; so that 

 one not used to them might mistake them for 

 trunks of trees, covered with a rough and dry 

 bark ; but the mistake would soon be fatal, if 

 not prevented ; for the torpid animal, at the 

 near approach of any living thing, darts upon 



it with instant swiftness, and at once drags it 

 down to the bottom. In the times of inunda- 

 tion, they sometimes enter the cottages of the 

 natives, where the dreadful visitant seizes the 

 first animal it meets with. There have been 

 several examples of their taking a man out of 

 a canoe in the sight of his companions, with- 

 out their being able to lend him any assist- 

 ance. 



The strength of every part of the crocodile 

 is very great ; and its arms, both offensive and 

 defensive, irresistible. We have seen, from 

 the shortness of its legs, the amazing strength 

 of the tortoise : but what is the strength of such 

 an animal compared to that of the crocodile, 

 whose legs are very short, and whose size is 

 so superior! The back-bone is jointed in the 

 firmest manner ; the muscles of the fore and 

 hinder legs are vigorous and strong ; and its 

 whole form calculated for force. Its teeth are 

 sharp, numerous, and formidable ; its claws are 

 long and tenacious ; but its principal instru- 

 ment of destruction is the tail : with a single 

 blow of this it has often overturned a canoe, 

 and seized upon the poor savage its conduc- 

 tor. 



Though not so powerful, yet it is very ter- 

 rible even upon land. The crocodile seldom, 

 except when pressed by hunger, or with a 

 view of depositing its eggs, leaves the water. 

 Its usual method is to float along upon the 

 surface, and seize whatever animals come 

 within its reach ; but when this method fails, 

 it then goes closer to the bank. Disappointed 

 of its fishy prey, it there waits, covered up 

 among the sedges, in patient expectation of 

 some land animal that comes to drink ; the 

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

 thing is to be seen of the insidious destroyer 

 as the animal approaches ; nor is its retreat 

 discovered, till it be too late for safely. It 

 seizes the victim with a spring, and goes at a 

 bound much farther than so unwieldy an 

 animal could be thought capable of exerting ; 

 then having secured the creature with both 

 teeth and claws, it drags it into the water, in- 

 stantly sinks with it to the bottom, and in this 

 manner quickly drowns it. 



Sometimes it happens that the creature the 

 crocodile has thus surprised escapes from its 

 grasp wounded, and makes off from the river 

 side. In. such a case the tyrant pursues with 

 all its force, and often seizes it a second time ; 

 for, though seemingly heavy, the crocodile 

 runs with great celerity. In this manner it 

 is sometimes seen above half a mile from the 

 bank, in pursuit of an animal wounded be- 

 yond the power of escaping, and then dragg- 

 ing it back to the river-side, where it feasts in 

 security. 



It often happens, in its depredations along 

 (he bank, that the crocodile seizes on a crea- 



