Instead of a

snout nor nostrils, nor proper teeth. snout, they have a mere spiracle or blowing hole, with a double opening at the top of the head, which has not hitherto been proved to be an organ of smell; and for teeth, a hard expanse of horny laminæ, which we call whalebone, in the upper jaw, but nothing of the sort in the lower. The eyes of the common whale, also, instead of answering the description of those of leviathan, are most disproportionally small, and do not exceed in size those of an ox. Nor can the whale be regarded as of fierce habits or unconquerable courage; for, instead of attacking the larger sea animals for plunder, it feeds chiefly on crabs and medusas, and is often itself attacked and destroyed by the ork, or grampus, though less than half its size.

"The crocodile, on the contrary, is a natural inhabitant of the Nile, and other Asiatic and African rivers; of enormous voracity and strength, as well as fleetness in swimming; attacks mankind and the largest animals with the most daring impetuosity; when taken, by means of a powerful net, will often overturn the boats that surround it; has proportionally the largest mouth of all monsters

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whatever; moves both his jaws equally, the upper of which has not less than forty, and the lower than thirty-eight large teeth; and is furnished with a coat of mail so scaly and callous as to resist the force of a musket-ball in every part, except under the belly. Herodotus expressly asserts that one of the modes by which this unconquerable monster was occasionally taken in his time, was by means of a hook, which was baited with a hog's chine and thrown into the midst of the river; and the crocodile, having swallowed it, was drawn on shore and despatched." To this minute account of the habits of the crocodile, it is only necessary to add, that it is a mistake to suppose that both its jaws are moveable. It is now ascertained that the under one only is so.

This animal attains the enormous length of thirty feet. Though not entirely an aquatic animal, the greater part of its existence is spent in the water. Its chief places of resort are among the thick reeds on the muddy banks of slow and tranquil streams; and, except when in pursuit of prey, it passes its existence in a languid state. When engaged in this occupation, it swims gently and silently on a

level with the water, till it sees some animal come down to the river-side to quench its thirst. Having stolen sufficiently close, it strikes the animal a sudden blow with its very powerful tail, and generally succeeds in either disabling it, or driving it into the water. It then seizes it with its tremendous jaws, and if it is an animal of small size, soon destroys it. When it happens to fall in with one of the larger animals, such as the horse or the ox, it seizes them by the nose with a sudden snap, drags them under water, and thus drowns them. Such is the strength of its powerful jaws, that it crushes the tortoise in pieces with the utmost ease; and so tenacious is its grasp, that it is impossible to cause it to loose its hold of any thing on which it has seized.

Having secured and destroyed its victim, the crocodile conveys it to a place of concealment under water, where it is suffered to remain till putrefaction commences, when the horrid animal returns, and enjoys its dainty meal. It is said to be particularly fond of the flesh of dogs; and that the bodies of men, particularly negroes, form its favourite repast. It seems probable, however, that