ORDER SAURIA. 197 



most correct. The slaves, on their arrival from Africa, at 

 sight of a crocodile, give it immediately the name of cayman. 

 It would appear from this, that it was the negroes who spread 

 this name throughout America, where it is employed even in 

 Mexico. This opinion is at least more probable than that 

 it was transmitted from the East to the West Indies. 



The Pike-muiz%led Cayman ( Crocodilus Lucius) inhabits 

 North America. It proceeds pretty far towards the north. 

 It ascends the Mississippi, as far as the Red River. Mr. 

 Dunbar and Dr. Hunter have met with an individual of this 

 species as high as 32^ and a half north latitude, although in 

 the month of December and during a very severe season. It 

 was brought for the first time, from the Mississippi by M. 

 INIichaud, and afterwards Mr. Peale sent a very fine indi- 

 vidual to the Paris Museum. Catesby seems to have given 

 but an indifferent figure of this species. He informs us that 

 these reptiles, in Carolina, conceal themselves in marshy places 

 covered with woods, and live there in the midst of carnage. 

 They spring upon domestic animals, such as pigs, sheep, and 

 oxen, that are imprudent enough to penetrate into these vast 

 solitudes, seize them with their powerful jaws, and drag them 

 down to the bottom of the waters, where they are speedily 

 devoured. The specimen above mentioned, sent to Paris by 

 Mr. Peale, was only five feet in length — but Catesby has 

 observed them as long as fourteen. 



In the Journal de Physicpie, 17^2, we are informed 

 that these caymans, in Louisiana, take refuge in the mud 

 of the marshes when the cold comes on, and fall there 

 into a lethargic sleep, without being frozen. When the 

 weather is very cold, they may be cut in pieces without 

 awakening them. Catesby gives us pretty nearly the same 

 information respecting those of Carolina, which on awakening 

 from their state of rest, send forth horrible bellowings. Ac- 

 cording to the first of those observers whom we have just 



