74 SHAKESPEARE’S [ CROCODILE. 
CrocopiLe is nigh twenty cubits long, and his skin is 
hard that recketh not though he be strongly beaten on the 
back with stones. And a certain fish, having a crest like 
to a saw, rendeth his tender womb, and slayeth him. And 
it is said that among beasts only the Crocodile moveth the 
over jaw. Among beasts of the land he is tongueless, and 
his biting is venomous; his teeth be horrible and strongly 
shapen as a comb or a.saw, and no beast that cometh of 
so little beginning waxeth so great, and is a beast nourished 
in great gluttony, and eateth right much. And so when 
he is full, he lieth by the brink or by the cliff, and bloweth 
for fullness; and then there cometh a little bird, which is 
called king of fowls among the Italians, and this bird flyeth 
tofore his mouth, and sometime he putteth the bird off, 
and at the last he openeth his mouth to the bird, and 
suffereth him enter. fAnd this bird claweth him first with 
claws softly, and miaketh him have a manner liking in 
clawing, and falleth anon asleep, and when this bird 
knoweth and perceiveth that this beast sleepeth, anon he 
descendeth into his womb, and forthwith sticketh him as 
it were with a dart, and biteth him full grievously and full 
