YOUNG CROCODILES. 
201 
similar to that we had seen at the Boca de la Tortuga. 
They had assembled to search the sands, for collecting the 
turtles’ eggs, and extracting the oil; but they had unfortu- 
nately made a mistake of several days. The young turtles 
had come out of their shells before the Indians had formed 
their camp; and consequently the crocodiles and the rjarzes, 
a species of large white herons, availed themselves of the 
delay. These animals, alike fond of the flesh of the young 
turtles, devour an innumerable quantity. They fish during 
the night, for the tortuguillos do not come out of the earth 
gain the neighbouring river till after the evening twilight, 
the zamuro vultures are too indolent to hunt after sunset, 
they stalk along the shores in the daytime, and alight in 
the midst of the Indian encampment to steal provisions; but 
hey often find no other means of satisfying their voracity 
han by attacking young crocodiles of seven or eight inches 
° n g, either on land or in water of little depth. It is curious 
,? see the address with which these little animals defend 
hemselves for a time against the vultures. As soon as they 
P^ceive the enemy, they raise themselves on their fore 
[' aws . bond their backs, and lift up them heads, opening 
eir wide jaws. They turn continually, though slowly, 
Qward their assailant to show him their teeth, which, even 
uen the animal has but recently issued from the egg, are 
er y long and sharp. Often while the attention of a young 
® r ?codile is wholly engaged by one of the zamuros, another 
M lzes the favourable opportunity for an unforeseen attack. 
, e pounces on the crocodile, grasps him by the neck, and 
6ars him off to the higher regions of the air. We had 
tn opportunity of observing this manoeuvre during several 
at Mompex, on the banks of the Magdalena, where 
st) a ' co ^ ecte d more than forty very young crocodiles, in a 
\u° US court surrounded by a wall. 
So e found among the Indians assembled at Pararuma 
th e *1 w hite men, who had come from Angostura to purchase 
tia tortoise-butter. After having wearied us for a long 
mjg 6 ! ^th their complaints of the ‘bad harvest,’ and the 
titue 16 / i^°° e ^ the tigers among the turtles, at the 
aj 0 °t laying their eggs, they conducted us beneath an 
ther^p ™ at rose “ hk® centre of the Indian camp. We 
e round the missionary-monks of Carichana and the 
