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THE CROCODILE. 
and is a dangerous foe to cattle or other beasts that come to the river-side for drink. Some 
persons relate that when its intended victim does not come sufficiently near to be snapped up, 
the Crocodile crawls to the banks, and with a sweep of its long and powerful tail strikes the 
poor creature into the water, where it is immediately seized in the Crocodile’s ready jaws. 
Human beings have a great dread of this terrible reptile. Many instances are known 
where men have been surprised near the water’s edge, or captured when they have fallen 
into the river. There is, it is said, only one way of escape from the jaws of a Crocodile, and 
FALSE GAVIAL . — Mecistops calaphractus. 
that is to turn boldly upon the scaly foe, and press the thumbs into his eyes, so as to force 
him to relax his hold, or relinquish the pursuit. Mr. Petherick relates a curious instance, 
where a man was drawing water, and was chased by a Crocodile into the recess in the earth 
in which he was standing while working the lever of the “shadoof.” The man crouched as 
far back as he could squeeze himself, and the Crocodile tried to follow him, but got itself so 
firmly wedged in the narrow channel through which it was endeavoring to force its way, that 
it could neither reach the man, whose trembling breast was within a span of the reptile’s 
terrible teeth, nor retreat from the strange position into which it had forced itself. After 
spending some time in terror, the poor man contrived to give the alarm to his comrades, 
who came running to his assistance, and despatched the Crocodile as it lay helplessly fixed in 
the crevice. 
The plates which cover the skin of the Crocodile are of exceeding hardness, so hard, 
indeed, that they are employed as armor by some ingenious warriors. A coat of natural 
scale armor formed from the Crocodile skin may sometimes be seen. Even a rifle ball 
may be turned by these horny plates, provided that it strikes rather obliquely ; and they 
are impervious to ordinary steel weapons. Modern rifles, however, especially if the ball is 
hardened with solder or tin, make little account of the plates, but cut their way through them 
without difficulty. 
