238 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
lying for whole hours, and even days, stretched In the sun, and 
motionless ; so that one not used to them, might mistake them 
for trunks of trees, covered with a rough and dry bark ; but 
the mistake would soon be fatal, if not prevented : lor the 
torpid animal, at the near approach of any living thing, darts 
upon it with instant swiftness, and at once drags it down to the 
bottom. In thetimesof an inundation, they sometimes enter the 
cottages of the natives, where the dreadful visitant seizes the 
first animal it meets with. There have been several examples 
of their taking a man out of a canoe in the sight of his com- 
panions, without their being able to lend him any assistance. 
The strength of every part of the crocodile is very great; 
and its arms, both offensive and defensive, irresistible. Most 
naturalists have remarked, from the shortness of its legs, the 
amazing strength of the tortoise : but what is the strength 
of such an animal, compared to that of the crocodile, whose 
legs are very short, and whose size is so superior ? its prin- 
cipal instrument of destruction is the tail : with a single 
blow of this it has often overturned a canoe, and seized 
upon the poor savage, its conductor. 
Though not so powerful, yet it is very terrible even upon 
land. The crocodile seldom, except when pressed by hunger, 
or with a view of depositing its eggs, leaves the water. Its 
usual method is to float along upon the surface, and seize 
whatever animals come within its reach : but when this me- 
thod fails, it then goes closer to the bank. Disappointed of 
its fishy prey, it there waits, covered up among the sedges, 
in patient expectation of some land animal that may come to 
drink; the dog, the bull, the tiger, or man himself. Nothing 
is to be seen of the insidious destroyer as the animal ap- 
proaches ; nor is its retreat discovered till it be too late for 
safety. It seizes the victim with a spring, and goes at a 
bound much faster than so unwieldy an animal could be 
thought capable of ; then, having secured the creature with 
both°t.eeth and claws, it drags it into the water, instantly 
sinks with it to the bottom, and in this manner quickly 
drowns it. 
Sometimes it happens that the creature the crocodile has 
thus surprised, escapes from its grasp wounded, and makes 
off from the river-side. In such a case, the tyrant pursues 
with all its force, and often seizes it a second time ; for? 
though seemingly heavy, the crocodile runs with great ce- 
lerity. In this manner it is sometimes seen above half a 
mile from the bank, in pursuit of an animal wounded be- 
yond the power of escaping, and then dragging it back to 
the river-side, where it feasts in security. 
