NORTH AMERICA. 
127 
chunk of wood floating about. Only the upper jaw 
moves, which they raife almoft perpendicular, fo 
as to form a right angle with the lower one. In 
the fore-part of the upper jaw, on each fide, juft 
under the no'flrils, are two very large, thick, itrong 
teeth or tuiks, not very fharp, but rather the lhape' 
of a cone : thefe ar e as white as the fined polifhed 
ivory/ and are not covered by any fkin or lips, and 
always in fight, which gives the creature a frightful 
appearance :. in the lower jaw are holes oppofite to 
thefe teeth, to receive them : when they clap their 
jaws together it caufes a furprifmg noife, like that 
which is made by forcing a heavy plank with vio- 
lence upon the ground, and may be heard at a great 
diftance. 
But what is yet more furprifmg to a ftranger, is 
the incredible loud and terrifying roar, which they 
are capable of making, efpecially in the fpring fea- 
fon, their breeding time. It mo ft refembles very 
heavy diftant thunder, not only making the air and 
waters, but caufmg the earth to tremble ; and when 
hundreds and thoufands are roaring at the fame 
time, you can fcarcely be perfuaded, but that the 
whole globe is violently and dangeroufly agitated. 
An old champion, who is perhaps abfoiute fove- 
reign of a little lake or lagoon (when fifty lefs than 
himfelf are obliged to content themfelves with fuel- 
ling and roaring in -little coves round about) darts 
forth from the reedy coverts all at once, on the 
furface of the waters, in a right line ; at fTrfl feem- 
ingly as rapid as lightning, but gradually more flowly 
until he arrives at the center of the lake, when he 
flops. He now fwells himfelf by drawing in wind 
and water through his mouth, which caufes a loud 
fonorous 
