Humboldt’s notes. 
407 
hearth, and there bask himself till sufficiently wanned 
by the fire, and then return to his proper element in 
the tub.” 
To return to the communications of Mr. Hill : — 
After alluding to the specimens of Loricata preserved 
in the Jamaica Society’s Museum, and to the various 
living individuals which had fallen under his own ob- 
servation, — as all exhibiting the characteristics of 
true Crocodiles, not Alligators, — he thus proceeds : 
The Saurians of this genus in the Rio Apure 
noticed by Humboldt as exceedingly numerous, 
being seen by five and six at a time, he describes as 
‘real Crocodiles, not Alligators or Caymans, with 
feet dentelated on the outer edge like those of the 
Nile.’ As he measured two dead individuals, one 
17 ft. 9 in. long, and the other 23 ft., with their 
swimming powers so remarkably indicated, they must 
be formidable monsters. It is on the occasion of 
noticing the animals of the Rio Apure, that he de- 
scribes what may be considered the characteristic 
movement of these reptiles. ‘ The motions of these 
animals,’ he says, ‘ are abrupt and rapid when they 
attack an object, although they move very slowly 
when not excited. In running, they make a rust- 
ling noise, which seems to proceed from their scales, 
and appear higher on their legs than when at rest, 
at the same time bending the back. They generally 
advance in a straight line, but can easily turn when 
they please. They swim with great facility, even 
against the most rapid current.’ On another occa- 
sion, when the same traveller mentions that even in 
the streets of Angostura, when the Orinoco inundates 
