a iOerctfptian of Cceotwrisf. 227 
creatiire that is, which from fo fmall a bignefs, 
groweth to be fuch a great creature j he groWeth 
as long as he liveth : he liveth ^o-yearsjand grow- 
eth till he be 17, i 8 , or 20. cubits Ibng ; his teeth 
are more like than teeth, being ertraordina- 
'rily big : his skin is fo hard all over his body, (ex- 
cepting his belly, which is exceeding tender) that 
he cannot feel the hardeft blow. 2. Although he 
is fo exceeding timerous, purfuing none bus thofe 
which flye from him ; and flying as faft from thofe 
that do purfue him ; yet he may be accounted bold 
and valiant. When he goeth out for his food, he 
will fometimes lye fiill, as if he were dead, or a- 
fleep ; thus inviting the birds to him, which think- 
ing he is dead, come Very near him, flying about 
him, and when they are within his reach, he ta- 
keth them. There is a little Bird which is called 
in Latine Irochllns^ that he fuffereth to feed con- 
tinually in his mouth, becaufe it keeps his .teeth 
clean, by picking out any thing that is between 
them ; like to thofe men who will do nothing but 
what may ierve their own interefl .• when the Cro- 
coiile wanteth food, and is exceeding hungry, he 
will fill his mouth full of water, and pourcth it up- 
on the beaten path, and fo making it very flippery, 
if any one falleth down, he will catch them before 
they can rife again ; he firft eateth the carkafs, 
and them with tears, he will eat the head ; whence 
came the Proverb, tears of th; Crocodile) which 
are feigned, and hypocritical. There is a great an- 
tipathy between the Crocodile and Ichneumon-, or 
hdlan-Rat) which is a kjind of Otter-y to .be found 
, Q2 ■ only 
I i 
