CURIOUS DWELLERS OF SWAMP AND FOREST. U7 



turning them and re-covering them with sand. After they 

 are hatched by the sun's rays, the mother will place her 

 young in the shallow water of a retired creek, where she will 

 nourish them until they are capable of feeding themselves. 



10. An Egyptian sportsman, who supported himself 

 and his family by the produce of his gun, with three of 

 his neighbors, went to an island — a favorite resort of croco- 

 diles — to hunt for their eggs. As they were going round 

 the island, three crocodiles escaped into the river. On 

 examining the spot, a quantity of eggs was discovered in 

 the sand. These they secured, and were proceeding back 

 to their tent, when a crocodile who had watched the trans- 

 action rushed to the place of her deposit, and as rapidly 

 returned to the river, and, swimming, followed them oppo- 

 site to their abode, where until nightfall her eyes were seen 

 above the water. The sportsmen feasted sumptuously upon 

 their spoil ; but as soon as the last embers of their fire had 

 died away, the crocodile charged them furiously, repeating 

 her attacks several times during the night ; and it was only 

 by the frequent discharge of their fire-arms that they kept 

 her off at all. 



11. This crocodile, which had hitherto remained harm- 

 less, now became furious, and attacked all the cattle it 

 could catch upon the river-side. Among the victims was a 

 fine mare in a neighboring village, who, as usual, was al- 

 lowed to graze in the coarse, abundant pasturage. One 

 day, while drinking, she was seized in the back of the neck 

 by the jaws of the crocodile. The mare, being a powerful 

 animal, in an agony of pain throw up her head. The 

 crocodile dropped upon her back, and with her strange 

 burden the mare galloped off to her stable. The aston- 

 ished villagers immediately set upon the crocodile with their 

 stout sticks, until she was induced to let go her hold and 

 dismount ; but the mare died from the joint effect of her 

 wounds and the fright. 



