8831 



Reptiles. 



of the island, three crocodiles escaped into the river, and on closely 

 investigating the spot a quantity of eggs were discovered in the sand. 

 No sooner had they made off with their booty in the direction of a 

 small tent which they had pitched than a crocodile, having watched 

 their proceedings, rushed to the place of her deposit, and as rapidly 

 returned to the river, and, swimming, followed them opposite to their 

 destination, where until nightfall her eyes were perceptible above the 

 water. Their repast that night was a rich one, but as soon as the last 

 embers of their fire had died away the crocodile charged them furiously, 

 repeating her attack several times during the night, and it was only by 

 the frequent discharge of their firearms that they kept her from closing 

 upon them. From that time the crocodile, hitherto harmless, became 

 furious, and fell upon all the cattle it could catch upon the river side. 

 Among many victims was a fine mare belonging to an Arab in the vil- 

 lage of Nega-il-Arab, half an hour's walk from the river. The mare, 

 as is usual, was allowed her freedom to graze in the coarse abundant 

 pasturage, and whilst drinking was suddenly seized in the back of the 

 neck by the jaws of the crocodile. The mare being an animal of great 

 power, in an agony of pain, violently threw up her head, and with it 

 the crocodile, which dropped on her back, and with her unwonted 

 burden she galloped off to her stable. The astonished villagers be- 

 laboured the crocodile so heartily with their " naboot " (stout sticks 

 common to every Fellah), that it was soon induced to let go its hold 

 and dismount ; but the mare died from the joint effects of its wounds 

 and the fright. 



The breeding season of the crocodile takes place during the low 

 stage of the river in March, and they deposit their eggs in the sand on 

 the banks, or, in preference, in small sand-banks or islands in the 

 stream. The eggs are white, hard, and in size not unlike those of a 

 domestic goose ; the exact measurement of one I found in the Nouaer 

 country, on the White River, being inches in length and 544 inches 

 in circumference. Cuvier observes that, of all animals, the crocodile 

 attains the greatest dimensions, considering its size at birth. 



Fearful combats take place between the males for the females, the 

 largest and most powerful one invariably monopolising the latter in his 

 district. 



When about to lay, the female crocodile, having made choice of a 

 spot, will dig with her claws in the sand a hole about six inches deep, 

 drop her egg therein and carefully cover it. She will then proceed to 

 make several similar holes around the first, in order to mislead any 

 one in search of her treasure. Daily she will contribute one egg to 



