425 



Hoise of the scales very near us on the shore j 

 but it is not true, as the Indians pretend, that 

 like the pangolins, the old crocodiles " can erect 

 their scales, and every part of their armour." 

 The motion of these animals is no doubt gene- 

 rally in a straight line, or rather like that of an 

 arrow which changes it's direction at certain 

 distances* However, notwithstanding the little 

 apparatus of false ribs, that connects the vertebras 

 of the neck, and seems to impede the lateral 

 movement, crocodiles can turn easily when they 

 please. I often saw young ones biting their 

 tails ; and other observers have seen the same 

 action in crocodiles at their full growth. If 

 their movements almost always appear to be 

 straight forward, it is because, like our small 

 lizards., they execute them by starts. Crocodiles 

 are excellent swimmers ; they go with facility 

 against the most rapid current. It appeared to 

 me, however, that in descending the river they 

 had some difficulty in turning quickly about. 

 A large dog, that had accompanied us in our 

 journey from Caraccas to the Rio Negro, was 

 one day pursued in swimming by an enormous 

 crocodile, which had nearly reached him, when 

 the dog escaped it's enemy by turning round 

 suddenly and swimming against the current. 

 The crocodile performed the same movement, 

 but much more slowly than the dog, which 

 happily gained the shore. 



