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CROCODILE. 



Crocodile, by the female, ot devoured by the male. A species of 



""if""""' tortoise frequenting the Nile, makes incredible havoc 



anion" the young : and in Louisiana, another tortoise of 



O.JO ' 



monstrous size, ventures, with success, to attack those of 

 considerable growth. The hostility of the ichneumon has 

 been related from times of remote antiquity ; and if we 

 cannot agree that it proves destructive of the crocodile it- 

 self, we at least know that it devours the eggs. In this 

 manner, the numbers of so formidable a creature, when 

 less capable of defence, are diminished ; but after having 

 attained its utmost power, different means repress its vo- 

 racity, and other enemies are on the watch for its de- 

 struction. Although the crocodile drags its prey under 

 water to extinguish life, we have already remarked, that 

 it must resort to shallows or the land to feed upon 

 it; and in like manner, when attacked by the sword- 

 fish or shark, it is easily vanquished, for on opening its 

 mouth in resistance, a torrent of water rushes in, and it 

 is drowned. Of all the enemies, however, which the 

 crocodile has to dread, the most inveterate is man. By 

 a perpetual and sanguinary war carried on against it al- 

 most in every country, and by the various devices 

 adopted for its capture, the race is prodigiously redu- 

 ced. But it is no easy matter to overcome an animal 

 endowed with such immoderate strength, and whose 

 hide in general is impenetrable by a leaden musket ball. 

 It is, however, more vulnerable in the belly, and a 

 bullet discharged down the throat or into the eyes is 

 fatal. Even harpoons or spears will penetrate the bod}', 

 and will inflict mortal wounds when thrown from a skil- 

 ful hand. The negroes of the river Senegal attack this 

 huge animal either when asleep, or in shallows where its 

 swimming is impeded, and by forcing an ox hide into its 

 mouth, the water flows in, while heavy blows are given on 

 the head to stun it, and it is drowned. In Louisiana, the 

 natives contrive to thrust a piece of wood pointed at both 

 ends into its throat ; or when rushing upon the assailants, 

 its wide mouth is met by a large stake, which is forcibly 

 thiust down, and it is speedily destroyed. Long iron 

 spikes are concealed in a bait, which penetrate both jaws 

 as the animal bites ; and many different methods are 

 employed for the same object. Pits are dug for it in 

 Egypt, and in St Domingo strong nets are spread, and 

 it is either hunted on foot with muskets and pikes, or 

 harpooned from boats. The animal floating like a log 

 on the surface of the water, remains motionless until a 

 boat is almost in contact with it; or when rising to 

 breathe, the harpooncr, by a dexterous blow, transfixes 

 its body, and allows his line to run out. The wounded 

 crocodile invariably descends, but the flowing blood marks 

 its progress, and it is quickly followed by the boat; or roar- 

 ing hideously, it dashes the water violently with its tail, 

 alternately dives and returns until it is drowned, or dies 

 1'rom the weapon. Hunting the animal on shore is a more 

 arduous undertaking; for, on seeking its usual haunts 

 among the mud of fallen rivers, or thick and marshy pla- 

 ces overgrown with weeds, frequently others start up after 

 one is in view, and endanger the huntsman. Sometimes 

 also the clayey bottom yielding to his weight, retains him 

 until the crocodile's approach puts his life in imminent 

 hazard. Besides lurking in the mud, in shallows, or 

 among weeds, this creature retreats to holes in the banks 

 of rivers ; and the dislodging him from these, constitutes 

 another kind of pursuit, infinitely more dangerous than 

 any of the others: here it becomes ferocious, and resists 

 its assailant, whereas in the water it flies before him. Se- 

 a era! persons, armed with muskets and pikes, commonly 



join in the amusement, and the animal, when its retreat Gi-ocodSe- 

 is discovered, is provoked to come forth by thrusting in "*" T~"™ / 

 poles. The huntsman then taking a stead}' aim, tries to 

 strike the most vulnerable part; but in doing so, he must 

 preserve extreme caution, and above all, keep at a certain 

 distance, because the crocodile not only furiously issues 

 out, but nimbly strikes an object with its tail towards its 

 mouth, which is always widely distended, A recent in- 

 stance occurred, where the destruction of a female croco- 

 dile, known to be near her nest, being projected, a single 

 huntsman ventured on the pursuit. But he was himself 

 surprised, by the animal suddenly darting from a thicket 

 and seizing him by the thigh. The extreme torture he 

 endured, rendered him incapable of defence, and the ani- 

 mal retreating backward through a narrow path, led him 

 to anticipate a horrible death. Some accidental circum- 

 stance, however, induced it, contrary to the nature of the 

 species, to quit its hold ; the huntsman had sufficient 

 presence of mind to present the butt end of his musket, 

 and while the crocodile forcibly closed its jaws upon it, 

 he took advantage of his remaining strength to escape, 

 by screening himself from its sight. It was with much 

 care and difficulty that he recovered from the injury: 



From the uninterrupted pursuit of the crocodile, by 

 these and many other methods, its multiplication is re- 

 pressed. Whence M. de la Borde concludes, that not 

 above five or six of a whole brood escape. 



All the amphibia are tenacious of life. Dr Brickell 

 says, " after the tail is cut off from the body of this crea- 

 ture, it will freely move for four or five days, as if it had 

 been alive, and still joined with the other parts." Seve- 

 ral leaden bullets, even when they penetrate, are some- 

 times insufficient to kill the crocodile, unless when they 

 reach the brain, the spine, or some of the larger blood ves- 

 sels. From the extreme hardness of the scales, iron balls 

 are recommended as more effectual. In common also 

 with most amphibia, it can survive a considerable time 

 in abstinence; and on being opened, large stones are 

 often found in its stomach. The x use of these is not 

 known ; the vulgar affirm that there is one for each year 

 of the animal's age, which is controverted by the best 

 observations; and the most probable theory now formed 

 is, that they assist in triturating the food, and enable the 

 animal to suffer longer abstinence. Some naturalists have 

 testified their surprise, that abstinence should not abate 

 the ferocity of the crocodile. But it appears in general, 

 that every animal, man not excepted, becomes more san- 

 guinary, cruel, and ferocious, from the pain of hunger; 

 and if we are to believe that hunger tames the lion, it is 

 by superinducing a debility, which checks the power of 

 exertion. 



It has been confidently maintained, that the innate fe- 

 rocity of the crocodile, which prompts it to bite even on 

 bursting the shell, renders it untameable. We may ask, 

 however, is any animal untameable? is it well establish- 

 ed, that among quadrupeds, birds, and even those fishes 

 and insects over which restraint can be obtained, there 

 are any which may not be familiarized with mankind ? 

 On maturely considering the observations of natural- 

 ists, there is scarcely a single animal which may not 

 be rendered docile. Those persons best acquaint- 

 ed with the means, have undoubtedly made the most 

 ferocious tractable, either by terrifying them into sub- 

 jection, or familiarizing them with habits opposite to 

 those bestowed by nature. Thus the crocodile has 

 certainly been tamed, and probably superstition, which 

 ever subdues human reason, first taught mankind t« 



