CROCODILE. 
being of an inferior size, it rarely attacks men 
or cattle, but is a great devourer of hogs. 
'* This destru6live animal," Catesby adds, 
by the close conne6lion of the joints of it*s 
vertebras, can neither swim nor run any other 
u-ay than straight forward ; and is, consequently, 
disabled from tuming with that agility which is 
requisite to catch it's prey by pursuit. It does 
it, therefore, by surprize, in the water as well 
as by land : for effedling which, nature seems 
in some measure to have recompensed it's 
want of agility, by giving it a power ot de- 
reiving and catching it's prey with a sagacity 
peculiar to itself, as well as by the outer form 
and colour o\ it's body, which on land re- 
sembles an old dirty log or tree, and in the 
water, where it frequently lays floating on the 
surface, it has a similar appearance ; through 
which, and it's silent artifice, fish, fowl, turtle, 
and all other aifimals, being deceived, are sud- 
denly caught and devoured." 
From what has been said respecting the 
Crocodile's want of agility in turning ; some 
have roundly asserted, that it could not turn at 
all: while others, convinced that it must be 
capable of turning, from the very nature of it's 
struvSture, 
