The first is found in Cayenne and Brazil; the second is found in the rivers of North America. It occurs in

Dumbar

the Mississippi, as high as the Red River. and Hunter met with an individual as far north as latitude 32, in the month of December, though the cold was rather severe. We have seen specimens from Carolina and Florida.

The PIKE-NOSED CAIMAN lives in rivers and lakes, and, according to Bartram, associates in troops, where fishes are abundant; and he has seen it in a stream of hot water, impregnated with vitriol. According to the same author, the female deposits her eggs in layers, separated from each other by partitions of mud. She watches them assiduously, and attends her young for two or three months after their exclusion. It appears from the observations of others, that this species never eats on the water; it drowns its prey, and then retires to its haunt in order to devour it. Its voice has some resemblance to that of a bull. It avoids the saltwater; and sleeps always with its mouth closed. In Louisiana, on the approach of winter, these Caïmans bury themselves in the mud, where they become stiff, without being frozen. So intense is their lethargy, when the cold is severe, that they may be cut deeply without being roused.

The SPECTACLED CAIMAN, (So called from a long ridge across the forehead, and another before each eye,) is a native of Cayenne, Brazil, and Paraguay. Spix, who observed this animal in the rivers Amazon and Solimoëns, informs us, that the female conceals her eggs in the woods bordering the water, and covers them with leaves; and that she watches them from the borders of the lake, or river, in which she dwells.

Its name in Brazil is Jacquare, or Jaquareaçu. Azara states, that the natives of Paraguay term it Yacaré. It is abundant there, in all the rivers, lagoons, and pools. "It is commonly said, that the size attained by the Yacaré, is in proportion to that of the river or lake it inhabits; but it is a mistake to suppose that those inhabiting small lakes do not grow to the size of those inhabiting large sheets of water. And the reason why large individuals are not found there, is because they leave these small lakes for large rivers, or large lakes; where, as they increase in size, they meet with an adequate supply of food, such as fishes and ducks, which they seize, and swallow whole

"Although the Yacaré is little dreaded, and persons swim and cross the rivers without fear, yet these animals sometimes seize upon dogs, and dive with them; and I do not doubt, but that they occasionally seize upon young persons, men, and various quadrupeds; but as it is known by experience, that this is not their common practice, I am inclined to think, that when such circumstances happen, it is because the places where their eggs are deposited are approached very closely.

"We well know, that these Caïmans attack persons who approach their nests, and would certainly destroy them, were not escape easy; for the Yacaré has not half the swiftness of a man.

"It is reported, that there are two species, one of a reddish colour, the other black; and that the former is scarce and ferocious. It will attack men who are swimming, as well as cattle and mules, while crossing

rivers. I have not seen this red Yacaré, and I suppose the accounts to be exaggerated." The red Yacaré,

which Azara did not see, is, most probably, the Alligator palpelrosus, which is of a chesnut colour on the back, and of a light chesnut on the under parts. Young specimens are of a reddish or yellowish colour, more or less inclined to brown.

"The Yacaré is not found farther south than the 32nd degree of south latitude. In its habits, it is completely aquatic; and is never found, excepting in the water, or on the bank. When it seeks larger sheets of water, it waits for the season of great floods, the currents of which transport it with them.

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During the night, and indeed almost always, it lies below the level of the water, with only the surface of the head exposed; but towards the middle of the day, it comes upon the bank to bask in the rays of the sun.

"The eggs of this animal are white, rough, and as large as those of a goose; they are deposited, to the number of sixty, in the sand, and covered with dried grasses. The Indians esteem them as food; and also relish the white and savoury flesh of the Yacaré itself, although it is dry and coarse.

"In order to take this Caïman, the natives use a particular sort of dart, with which they aim at the flank, the only vulnerable part. When the dart enters, the iron head separates from the shaft, and the one being attached to the other by a long string, the shaft rises to the surface; by pulling at this, they know where the Caïman lies, and then, in a canoe, attack it with lances.

"The Spaniards are accustomed to amuse themselves with firing balls at this animal; but uselessly, as they can only penetrate the eyes or flanks; and, in either case, the Yacaré plunges to the bottom, and there remains. Sometimes they take a portion of the lungs of an ox, or sheep, and fix in the substance of it a piece of sharp-pointed wood, with a very long cord attached to it. They throw this bait into the water; and as soon as

L

the Yacaré seizes and swallows it, drag the animal by main force to the bank.

GENUS CROCODILUS.

The genus Crocodilus is distinguished from Alligator, by the sudden narrowness of the muzzle behind the

nostrils, which produces a large notch, for the lodgement of the fourth tooth of the lower jaw, when the mouth is closed. In general, the posterior margin of the leg is ornamented with a series of ridged scales; and the hind toes, especially the three outermost, are joined by webs to their point.

Of this genus, two are indigenous in the new world. The CROCODILUS RHOMBIFER inhabits Cuba, and, perhaps, Mexico; the SHARP-NOSED CROCODILE, (C. acutus,) is found in St. Domingo, Martinique, and, perhaps, in the country of South America between Camana and the Gulf of Darien. The other species are all peculiar to the old world. The COMMON CROCODILE, (C. vulgaris,) is found in the Nile, the Senegal, in the Ganges, and along the coast of Malabar. The HELMETED CROCODILE, (C. galeatus,) is found in Siam. The Two-RIDGED CROCODILE, (C. biporcatus,) occurs in the Ganges, in the rivers of Pondicherry, in Java, Timor, and the Seychelles isles. The

CUIRASSED CROCODILE, (C. cataphractus,) is found in the river Galbar, near Sierra Leone, and, most probably, in the Senegal. Of one species, the Crocodile of M. Journée, (C. Journei,) the country is unknown.

GENUS GAVIALIS.

The genus Gavialis is at once to be distinguished by the length and narrowness of the jaws, which are produced

into a straight, beak-like snout, armed with ranges of formidable teeth.

One species only is known, the GAVIAL OF THE GANGES, (Gavialis Gangeticus,) one of the scourges of that celebrated river; and the dying Hindoo, exposed upon its bank, and the dead body consigned to its waters, become, not unfrequently, the food of this ferocious animal.

We shall conclude our history of the present race of Saurians, with a brief commentary, relating more particularly to the species inhabiting Africa and India; and bearing rather upon general, than specific details.

The Crocodile was known from the earliest periods, as far as the records of history conduct us; and every account tends to manifest the terror which its power and ferocity occasioned. Among that singular and idolatrous people, the Egyptians, it appears to have been one of the many animals to which they rendered religious homage. Herodotus observes, that "with some of the Egyptians the Crocodile is sacred; while others pursue him as an enemy. The inhabitants of the Thebaïs, and the shores of the lake Moeris, regard these creatures with the highest reverence. Each person rears a Crocodile, which