106 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
some parts of Asia, and was an object of worship 
with the ancient Egyptians. It is by far the most 
daring and ferocious of amphibious animals, seizing 
with avidity any animals that come within its reach, 
not sparing even man. 
290. Its size is enormous, sometimes exceeding 
twenty-five feet in length. The upper parts of its 
body are covered with a sort of armour, resembling 
the most curious carved work, sufficiently strong to 
repel a musket ball. Its mouth is furnished with 
two rows of formidable teeth. Its eyes are large 
and fiery, projecting out of the head, but immovable, 
so that it can only see, directly before it. 
291. It is only in the water that the Crocodile 
can exert its full strength. Conscious of this, it sel- 
dom leaves the water, except when pressed by hun- 
ger, or to lay its eggs. These it deposits in the 
sand, to the number of eighty or a hundred. They 
are hatched in about thirty days, and the young one 
is about seven or eight inches long. 
292. The Alligator of America is closely allied to 
the crocodile of the East; the principal difference 
between them being, that its head and part of its 
neck are much more smooth than those of the Croco- 
dile, and that its snout is more wide and flat, and 
more rounded at the extremity. The usual length 
of the American species is seventeen or eighteen 
feet. 
293. The ponds, lakes, and rivers of the warmer 
parts of America are literally full of these animals. 
Their usual motion when on land is slow and slug- 
gish. They seize their prey by giving it a tremen- 
II 
What is its character ? Describe its size and appearance. 
Where can it best exert its strength ? How are its eggs hatched ? 
Compare the Alligator with the Crocodile. 
