172 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
while he plunges with his fierce antagonist into the river. There they continue 
to struggle for some time, till at last the tiger is drowned. 
In this manner the crocodile seizes and destroys all animals, and is equally 
dreaded by all. There is no animal but man alone that can combat it with 
success. We are assured by Labat that a negro, with no other weapons than 
a knife in his right hand and his left arm wrapped round with a cowhide, 
ventures boldly to attack this animal in his own element. As soon as he 
approaches the crocodile he presents his left arm, which the animal swallows 
most greedily, but sticking in his throat, the negro has time to give the creature 
several stabs in the softer parts of the neck, while the water getting in the 
mouth, thus held involuntarily open, the animal is soon dispatched. Though 
we have Labat as authority, we can no less doubt the truth of this relation. 
HUNTING THE CROCODILE. 
A common means of killing the crocodile practised by the natives of north¬ 
western Africa is thus described by Dr. Ruppell: 
“ The most favorable season is either the winter, when the animal usually 
sleeps on sand-banks, luxuriating in the rays of the sun, or the spring, after the 
pairing time, when the female regularly watches the sand-islands, where she has 
buried her eggs. The natives find out the place, and on the south side of it, 
that is to the leeward, dig a hole in the sand, throwing the earth to the side 
which they expect the animal to take. Then they conceal themselves, and the 
crocodile comes to its accustomed spot and soon falls asleep. The hunters then 
dart their harpoons with all their force at the animal, for in order that the 
strokes may be successful, the harpoon head ought to penetrate to the depth of 
at least four inches, that the barb may be firmly fixed in the flesh. Upon being 
wounded the crocodile rushes for the water, and the hunters retreat to their 
canoes. A piece of wood, attached to the harpoon line, swims on the water and 
indicates the direction in which the crocodile is moving. The huntsmen, by 
pulling on the line, drag the beast to the surface of the water where it is struck 
with other harpoons until destroyed. ” 
A decidedly novel method of effecting its capture is often put into execution 
by the colored people living near the bayous of Louisiana and Florida, who affix a 
strong rope having a noose at the pendant end to the top of a stiff sapling, which 
is then bent over by the force of three or four men until the noose can be made 
fast around a circle of sticks placed in the ground some six inches high, and set 
with triggers, baited with a piece of putrid flesh. When the alligator seizes the 
meat the noose is loosed and catching him about the neck raises the victim half 
off the ground, where all his struggles can avail nothing, and he soon strangles. 
The shooting of alligators has long been a favorite pastime with sport-lov¬ 
ing tourists who visit the swamps of Florida, while thousands are annually 
killed for their hides, which are now used for many useful purposes. Indeed 
these uses have served to make the people of Florida more regardful of the life of 
the alligator and they now protect him from indiscriminate slaughter by severe 
prohibitory laws. 
HOW THE CROCODILE BREEDS. 
All crocodiles breed near fresh waters; and though they are sometimes 
found at sea, yet that may be considered rather as a place of excursion than abode. 
