i68 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
ferocious, but in habits, aside from courage, the identity is pronounced. Gener¬ 
ally, all naturalists recognize the impossibility of separating the several species 
by well-defined differences, .on which account alligators and crocodiles are 
described as inhabiting alike the waters of the Old and New World. 
We will now proceed to describe more particularly the appearance of the 
several species as a whole, and to illustrate their habits by incidents and adven¬ 
tures from the experiences of those who have hunted the animal, or fallen acci¬ 
dentally within its power. With the differences given it will still be seen how 
close is the family resemblance to the teleosaurus , the belodon , and to one another. 
ADVENTURES WITH CROCODILES. 
The most pronounced distinguishing characteristic in the crocodile species is 
in the shape of the head; gavials have the longest muzzle, the true crocodiles the 
next, while the nose of the alligator is shortest. In the latter the body is 
thick, teeth irregular in length and size, webs of the toes only half the length, 
and their haunts are chiefly in the fresh water of lagoons and river mouths. 
All the several species are covered with a thick, tessellated or checkered skin, 
that resembles scales, but the true scale is wanting. These squares are so indu¬ 
rated as to deflect a rifle-ball, when fired at ordinary range, though should the 
ball strike a crease, which lies between the squares of bony skin, it easily 
penetrates. It is this fact that has caused a diversity of opinion as to the vul¬ 
nerableness of the alligator. 
All of the several species live upon similar food, and take their prey in 
an identical manner. At the point of the long.nose are the nasal cavities, by 
which the creature is able to project its muzzle scarcely above the surface of the 
water and yet breathe freely; by this provision of its nose it is also able to 
approach its prey unperceived. Being of remarkable activity in water the ani¬ 
mal will seize the nose of a drinking quadruped, and with a spasmodic motion 
of almost lightning celerity incurve its body and strike the prey a powerful 
blow with its jagged tail. If the victim is large enough to wage a contest it 
is dragged under water and there held until drowned. The food, however taken, 
is not eaten under water, but conveyed to some spot and hidden until decom¬ 
position is somewhat advanced, when it is dragged out upon the shore and there 
devoured, for the crocodile cannot breathe under water, though an inflation of its 
lungs will serve it for some considerable time. 
In the Ganges the crocodiles may be seen almost constantly lying on shore, 
or floating, with the nose scarcely observable, with the stream, watching for car¬ 
cases in a state of putrefaction. Sometimes a carrion bird may be seen hover¬ 
ing above or stationed upon a human body which the Hindoos in their super¬ 
stitious attachments have committed to the stream, which they look upon as the 
roadway to Paradise. But the vultures are not long permitted to enjoy their 
feast unmolested, for the watchful crocodiles make haste to dispute possession, 
which they more readily accomplish by dragging the body first under water 
and then conveying it to the shore. 
BATTLE WITH THE CROCODILES. 
It is a very common thing for the native princes of India, living in the 
neighborhood of large rivers where crocodiles abound, to have them caught for 
the purpose of entertaining their court and guests, by making them fight, or 
