$2 THE ALLIGATOR. 



the delicacies of some of the African tribes, and 

 are said to form one of their most favourite re- 

 pasts. 



One of the greatest curiosities in the fossil world, 

 which the late ages have produced, is the skeleton of 

 a. large Crocodile, almost entire, that was found at 

 a great depth under ground, bedded in stone. This 

 was in the possession of Linkius, who wrote many 

 tracts on natural history, and particularly an accu- 

 rate description of this curious fossil. It was found 

 in the side of a large mountain in the midland part 

 of Germany, in a stratum of black fossil stone, 

 somewhat like our common slate, but of a coarser 

 texture, the same with that in which the fossil fish 

 in many parts of the world are found. This skele- 

 ton had the back and ribs very plain, and was of a 

 much deeper black than the rest of the stone. The 

 part of the stone where the head lay was not found : 

 it was irregularly broken off just at the shoulder, so 

 as, however, in one place, to leave part of the 

 back of the head in its natural form. The two 

 shoulder-bones were very perfect, and three of the 

 feet well preserved ; the legs were of their natural 

 shape and size, and the feet preserved, even to the 

 extremities of the five toes of each. 



THE ALLIGATOR*. 



The principal distinction betwixt the Alligator 



* Synonyms. Lacerta Alligator. Linn. Jacare. Maregrawe. 

 Crocodile. La Hontan. Lacertus maximus. Catesby. American 

 Crocodile,— >Shavfs Gen. ZsoL vol, |, tab. 59. 



