The CROCODILE.
This amphibious animal is claſſed among the Lizard Tribe. A courage fierce and ſavage, aided by great bodily ſtrength, joined to a conſiderable ſhare of cunning, or ſtratagem, compoſe the great outline of this animal’s character.
Of a bulk truly formidable from 18 to 28 feet long, they are univerſally dreaded; always on the watch, with activity and appetite ever ready, the Crocodile lets ſlip no opportunity of committing his depredations on animal nature; the water is his proper element, but if his voracity has cauſed a ſcarcity of game here, hid among the reeds, he lies in wait on the banks of the river, expecting the approach of ſome thirſty animal, compelled by the heat to regale nature with a lap of water, then the Crocodile immediately ſeizes upon, and pulls down his prey; where, unleſs of very large bulk, it rarely eſcapes being preſently drowned, holding his prey both by his claws and his mouth, which, in one 17 feet long, will open near 2 feet, a gape ſufficient to take firm hold of man or beaſt.
This animal is oviparous, or generated by eggs, which the female depoſits with the utmoſt ſecrecy and circumſpection in the ſand, on the ſhore of the river; ſcratching a hole in a ſuitable place, in about an hour ſhe depoſits near an hundred eggs, then covers the place with the moſt ſedulous anxiety for their ſafety; the ſame taſk is performed the ſucceeding and third day, when about 300 eggs are depoſited, theſe covered with great care with the ſand, ſhe commits to the foſtering hand of Nature: the heat of the ſun in about 30 days animates the eggs, and now Nature prompts the mother to ſeek after her young by clearing away the ſand; the brood thus liberated, ſome take immediately to the water, while others mounted on her back, are introduced to their fluid habitation with more eaſe and ſafety; this parental care ſoon ſubſides; their proper element once gained, ſafety depends on their agility and caution.
The ferocity of the Crocodile, like other wild animals, very much abates as his abode is more or leſs in an inhabited country. In unfrequented rivers they lie baſking in droves together, and have the appearance of large trunks of trees, with rough and rugged bark floating on the water; yet, thus apparently torpid, appetite is awake, and the approach of any animal is quickly followed by a conflict for victory. In more populous countries the undivided tyranny of man has reduced them within better bounds. It is reported, the children of the Siameſe play with them in a very familiar manner, and will even correct them with blows; it is true, indeed, theſe people treat them more as friends than enemies. The reverſe to this is the general character of the Crocodile, whoſe great fecundity muſt be very alarming, had not the wiſe, the beneficent hand of Providence appointed a bird of the Vulture kind, and an animal called the Ichneumon, with an appetite peculiarly fond of the Crocodile’s eggs.
The colour is a greeniſh brown, the upper part of the body is covered with a very thick and rough ſkin, proof againſt the edge of a ſword; the belly, of a greeniſh white, is more vulnerable; the eye is very prominent and large, of a yellowiſh green; the feet are ſhort, but very muſcular; with its tail it uſually knocks down and ſtuns its prey. Inhabits moſt great rivers of Aſia, Africa, and America: the Nile in Egypt has ever been famous for them.
