The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-09
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THE CROCODILE.

In his work on Ceylon, Sir Emmerson
Tennent describes two distinct species Of
the crocodile-the allie kimboola, { Croco-
diim Jiporeatas Of Cuvier,) which inhab-
its the rivers and estuaries throughout the
low countries ON the coasts, attaining the
length Of sixteen or eighteen feet, and
which will assail men when pressed for
hunger; and the marsh crocodile, Croco-
dzus paiustris,) which seldom exceeds
twelve or thirteen feet, and lives exclu-
siyely in fresh water, frequenting the
tanks or reservoirs In the northern and
central provinces, and confning its attacks
to the smaller animals. Both species have
been known to seize dogs when swimming
after wild fowl shot by their masters, and
very frequently the game also disappears
before it can be secured by the sportsman.
In the dry season, when the water
courses begin to fail, and the tanks become
exhausted, the marsh crocodiles are some
times encountered wandering in search of
water in the jungle; but generally, dur
ing the extreme drought, when unable to
procure their ordinary food owing to the
drying up Of the reservoirs, they bury
themselves in the weeds, and remain in a
state of torpor till released by the return
of the rains. Humboldt in his personal
Narrative, relates an occurrence at Gala
bazo, in Venezuela, where a crocodile
emerged from beneath the mud, to the as
tonishment Of those sleeping above; and
Tennent tells a similar story, narrated to
him by an officer attached to the depart
ment Of the surveyor general. This gen
tleman, having pitched his tent on the
dried-up bed Of a tank, had been disturbed
during the night by feeling movement
Of the earth below his bed, from which on
the following day crocodile emerged
from beneath the mating.
Hcrodotus records the observations of
the Egyptians, that the crocodiles of the
Nile abstain from food during the four
winter months. When floating down that
river or the Ganges, looking like inanimate
logs, it is no difficult matter to lodge
ball in them, though from the tough na-
ture Of the hide the bullet often flies off
at tangent, and the animal is as uncon-
cerned as II you were amusing yourself
with pea.shooter; for this reason few Of
them are actually "bagged; !" but, the mo-
ment they are struck in any vital part,
they dive into the muddy depths of the
stream, and are seen no more.
In some countries the flesh of the croc-
odile is consumed as an article of diet
and the French writer, Pallegroix, in his
work on "Siam," states that it may be
purchased in the markets and bazars.
The names of crocodile and alligator
are applied indiscriminately, though there
is structural difference, the latter term,
probably, being derived from the word
hgarto, used BY the Portuguese in India
and the Spaniards in South America when
speaking Of the huge reptiles which infcst
the rivers and estuaries Of Asia aud America
The species which inhabits the fresh
water is afraid Of man, and hastens to con-
ceal itself on his approach, sometimes bury
ing its head in the mud until its eyes are
covered, as though, like the ostrich, IL be-
lieved Il thus remained invisible to It's
pursuer. The crocodile also dives down
and buries itself in the mud at the bottom
of the tanks when closely pursued. A
remarkable instance is narrated of this
habit: In 1888, during the progress of the
pearl fishery, Sir Robert W. Horton, the
Governor Of Ceylon, employed men to drag
for crocodiles in pond near Aripo, which
was infested with these gigantic creatures
The Pool was about fifty yards in length,
by ten or twelve in width, gradually shoal-
ing to the edge, and not exceeding four or
five feet in the deepest part. As the party
approached, from twenty to thirty crocc-