CROCODILES. 63 



low, growling sound, at which the whole tank 

 became in motion, and Crocodiles, of whose 

 existence we had been before ignorant, splashed 

 through the shallow water, struggling which 

 would seize the prize." The largest of these 

 crocodiles, said to be over two hundred years 

 old, lived by himself in a long narrow tank. 

 By way of further distinction the fakirs had 

 painted his forehead red ; and they and the 

 natives who worship in the neighbouring temples 

 showed him great veneration, making a salaam 

 whenever he showed himself above water. 



According to Sir J. Emerson Tennent, the 

 Marsh Crocodile is an arrant coward, hastening 

 to conceal himself on the approach of man. On 

 one occasion one of these Crocodiles which was 

 overtaken in the jungle by a gentleman on 

 horse-back, fled to the nearest shallow pool, 

 and thrusting its head into the mud till it 

 covered up its eyes, "remained motionless, in 

 profound confidence of perfect concealment/' 

 The same habit of covering the eyes and leav- 

 ing the body exposed, it will be remembered, 

 is also a characteristic of the ostrich, thereby 

 bringing upon itself much ridicule. As a matter 

 of fact, however, this habit of hiding the head 

 is not so foolish as it appears. The bodies of 

 these and many other creatures which also adopt 

 this habit, harmonize so perfectly with their 

 surroundings that, but for the brightness of 

 the eyes, they would often pass undiscovered. 

 By hiding the head, not only are the eyes 

 effectually concealed, but the outline of the 

 body is most effectually disguised, inasmuch as 



