184 CLASS REPTILIA. 



face of the abdomen, and receive the blood of the veins of 

 the bladder. 



This principal trunk thus spreads as far as the anterior 

 part of the abdomen, receives the veins of the muscles of the 

 parietes of this cavity, and proceeds between the greater lobes 

 of the liver, to unite to the vena-porta. 



Some variations only are observable, proceeding from the 

 situation of the kidneys, the size of the caudal veins, and the 

 extent of the lower paries of the abdomen. The veins of the 

 upper part of the muscles of this region form a separate 

 trunk, which goes directly to the liver. In the crocodiles 

 we find two of those venous trunks, which proceed to the 

 liver, and the same is the case with the caymans. 



We shall now dismiss the subject of the saurians in gene- 

 ral, and proceed to make a few remarks on the Crocodiles, 

 the first genus of this order. 



The very name of crocodile excites the idea of an animal 

 alike formidable for its size and ferocity ; of an animal un- 

 equalled in its own orders, and which is the tyrant of the 

 fresh waters of the equinoxial zone, both in the old and the 

 new world. " In the length of its body," says the eloquent 

 Lacepede, " it surpasses both the eagle and the lion, those 

 haughty monarchs of the air and the forest ; and if we except 

 the elephant, the hippopotamus, some cetacea, and some 

 few enormous serpents, it has no equal in nature." 



If the crocodiles exceed the majority of other animals in 

 size, and in extent of offensive power, they are also better 

 protected by nature with defensive arms. Their skin is 

 almost entirely covered with small bucklers, which are proof 

 against thej sword and the musket bullet. They possess, 

 moreover, a terrific aspect, which principally proceeds from 

 the fierce glances of their eyes. Their mouth, furnished 

 with long and numerous teeth, appears like a mighty gulph 

 ready to swallow all that approaches. Their grave and 



