34 
THE MARGINED CROCODILE. 
concavity of the forehead, and the strong keels of the dorsal, or back plates. I am indebted 
to Captain Drayson, author of “ Sporting Scenes among the Kaffirs,” for the following account 
of the Margined Crocodile and its habits, from which it appears that the reptile is formidable 
not only to the creatures on which it usually feeds, but to man himself : — 
44 About two or three miles from the Bay of Natal there is a river called the Umganie ; 
into this river a lake called the Sea-cow Lake empties itself. The lake was, daring my resi- 
dence at Natal, the retreat of several hippopotami and Crocodiles, both of which were in the 
habit of treking into the Umganie River. Often, when riding round the banks of this lake, I 
have disturbed two or three Crocodiles, which were stealing amongst the reeds and long grass, 
AMERICAN CROCODILE. — Crocodilus americanm. 
in hope of stalking a fat toad, or a sleepy guana. Sometimes a scaly reptile might be awak- 
ened from his dose by the sound of my horse’s feet, and would rush through the long reeds 
towards his retreat. Their movement is much more rapid than would be supposed from their 
appearance, and they care nothing for a fall head over tail, but almost fling themselves down 
the steep banks when alarmed. 
“ On the banks of the Umganie were several Kaffir kraals, in one of which resided a man 
who had been roughly treated by a Crocodile. This man, seeing me pass his residence, called 
to me, and asked as a favor that I would watch at a particular part of the river until I shot a 
rascally Crocodile that had nearly killed him. The Crocodile, he informed me, always made 
its appearance about sundown, and he hinted that a position might be selected so that the sun 
would dazzle the Crocodile and prevent him from seeing me. Finding that I was willing to 
gratify his revenge, he limped out of the inclosure surrounding his huts, and offering me his 
snuff -gourd, he, at my request, gave me the following account of his escane. 
