98 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



SECTION XXII. 



2d Order — Lizards: (Sauria.) 



§ 406. Reptiles which, like snakes, are covered with 

 scales, but which are provided with four legs, are called 

 Lizards, (Sauria.) 



\ 407. The largest Lizards are the Crocodiles, which 

 are found in Africa, America, and Asia ; those of Africa 

 are distinguished by a prolongated fiat snout, those of 

 America by a wide and round one, and those of East 

 India by a pointed one, like the beak of a bird. 



§408. The Crocodile of the Nile (Crocodilus niloticus) 

 is the largest known Reptile. An adult one is thirty feet 

 long or more ; it has a very short moveable tongue, from 

 72 to 80 conical teeth in both jaws, and a strong odor of 

 musk, which indicates its presence at the distance of 

 several miles. 



\ 409. The Crocodile attracted the attention of the most 

 distinguished philosophers of antiquity. The wealthy 

 Scaurus, who, 58 years before Christ, sent to Africa for 

 a River-horse and five Crocodiles, was the first to intro- 

 duce this animal into Rome. The Emperor Augustus 

 exhibited an African Crocodile in his triumph over Cleo- 

 patra, as well as several others for the entertainment of 

 the people. 



§410. The ancient Egyptians considered the Crocodile 

 as a sacred animal, because it prevented the robbers of 

 Arabia and Lybia from crossing the river Nile ; and Dio- 

 dorus Siculus says that when king Minas fell with his 

 horse into the lake Mceris, he was saved by a Crocodile, 

 which carried him out on its back. 



\ 411. The Crocodiles feed principally on fish, crabs, 

 and such other animals as they can catch. Their flesh, 

 which is as white as snow, is eaten by many people. 

 They are caught with strong hooks, or by shooting them 

 in the eye. 



§ 412. It is said that the Crocodile, on seeing a human 



