THE CROCODILE 259 



them other than vain regret that their numbers 

 and varieties should to-day be to all intents and 

 purposes just as great and numerous as at any 

 period regarding which we possess reliable data. 



Another singular and incomprehensible fact 

 connected with this subject is the length of the 

 period of life assigned to certain members of the 

 reptile families in comparison with that which the 

 mammals enjoy. Take, for example, that hideous 

 blot upon the creation, the crocodile. There can 

 be little doubt that the life of this murderous pest 

 is, in favourable conditions, far longer than that 

 of any of the terrestrial animals, probably not 

 even excepting the largest. The astonishing 

 manner in which the crocodile's teeth renew 

 themselves practically rejuvenates the reptile, 

 and there can be no doubt that this marvellous 

 continuous process of dental change goes on and 

 on until the creature reaches an immense age, 

 altogether, in the present state of our know- 

 ledge, beyond computation. Scientists, even those 

 possessed of special knowledge, can afford no 

 insight into the question of how many times, or 

 up to what age, the teeth of the crocodile renew 

 themselves — in fact it may be taken as a fact 

 that these are points regarding which science has 

 nothing whatsoever to tell us. 



There is, I believe, only one kind of crocodile 

 found in Africa,^ and this is thought by some 

 writers to be identical with the type existing 

 and exacting so heavy a tax upon human life in 



1 Since the foregoing was written I learn that West Africa 

 possesses two forms of crocodile, with which I am unfamihar. 



