CROCODILE. 
This grand, fierce, and terrific animal* 
though it has four feet, seems to be rcje6lcd, 
bv most naturalists, from the quadruped race ; 
and placed at the head of a distinft class, under 
the general appellation of the Li/.ard kind. 
That there is much similarity between tlie 
Crocodile and the Lizard, as far as relates to 
their general forms, cannot possibly be dis- 
puted : but it is equally unquestionable that, 
in many particulars of even their rcspe6tivc 
conformations, there exists great manifest and 
essential distin6lion ; to say nothing of their 
habits and qualities, where still greater dif- 
ferences prevail. Nor can we omit to notice, 
on this occasion, the impropriety of taking tl:c 
name of a class, or genus, from the minor sj^e- 
cies, instead of tlic major ; and calling that tlic^ 
Lizard tribe, which should, in facl, if the affi- 
nity be allowed, have ralher been denominated 
the Crocodile tribe : for, aware as we are, 
that the same thing is done with respect to se- 
veral other generical classes, we arc decldedlv 
of opinion, that it forms a vice in natural 
history. The difnculty, indeed, of assigning 
piv| I- 
