ORDER SAURIA. 187 



crisis which is fatal to the majority of reptiles. The number 

 of enemies also, capable of destroying them, after they have 

 arrived to the maturity of their strength, is very small. Like 

 other reptiles, they can remain a long time without eating, 

 and such of them as do not inhabit climates the most approxi- 

 mating to the equator, bury themselves during the entire 

 winter, so that the causes of death are much less frequent 

 with them than with the majority of other beings. 



The shores of great rivers, and the midst of marshy lakes, 

 are the favourite haunts of the crocodiles. They are some^ 

 times to be found there in very numerous troops. In such 

 places they find, on the one hand, shelter and security, and 

 on the other, they live on frogs, fish, water-birds, and, in fine, 

 on all the animals which they can secure. Even dogs, swine, 

 and oxen, cannot always escape their voracity. It is reported 

 that they will seize them by the muzzle, or the legs, when 

 they go to drink, and drag them into the water. M. Bosc 

 used to amuse himself by making them issue from their 

 retreats, and run towards him, by causing his hunting dog to 

 bark and yelp on the banks of rivers. He usually fired at 

 them, but sometimes would suffer them to approach near 

 enough to strike them with a stick. Of this they did not 

 appear to be much afraid, but they never attempted to attack 

 him. On the contrary, they would withdraw gravely as soon 

 as they perceived that there was no prey for them in his 

 immediate neighbourhood. Though heavy, they swim with 

 very great facility ; but their movements are very slow on 

 land. As soon as the negroes of Carolina perceive any of 

 them, considerably removed from their retreat, they intercept 

 their return, pursue them, kill them with hatchets, and ban- 

 quet upon the tail. M. Bosc has often found dead ones thus 

 mutilated, which shed so infectious an odour of ammonia, 

 that it was impossible to remain near them. Even the vul- 

 tures, to which the most corrupted flesh is a regale, abandon 



