Contributions to the Natural History of the Alligator (Crocodilus Mississippiensis): With a Microscopic Addendum

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B.M. Norman, 1846 - 30 sider

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Side 12 - The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold, the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee, sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble : he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
Side 12 - His scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near to another, That no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, They stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
Side 22 - Moivre, without rule or line ? Who bid the stork, Columbus-like, explore Heavens not his own, and worlds unknown before? Who calls the council, stales the certain day? Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way ? III.
Side 22 - ... alligator, that invaded a South American city, and in the presence of the governor, carried off, in his capacious jaws, a living man ! Mrs. Trollope's story, which follows, has become classical, and is quoted as authority. The scene is laid in Louisiana, the hero is a squatter. The poet is a lady : " towards daybreak, the husband and father was awakened by a faint cry, and looking up, beheld relics of three of his children scattered over the floor, and an enormous crocodile, with several young...
Side 24 - ... the immense rafts of floating or stranded timber, was quite a common occurrence, the smaller on the backs of the larger, groaning and uttering their bellowing noise, like thousands of irritated bulls about to meet in fight, but all so careless of man, that unless shot at, or positively disturbed, they remained motionless, suffering boats or canoes to pass within a few yards of them, without noticing them in the least. The shores are yet trampled by them in such a manner, that their large tracks...
Side 21 - A gentleman, on two occasions, watched alligators when catching sunfish, which were swimming in shoals, in shallow water. The alligator placed his long body at a suitable distance from the shore. As soon as the fish came between him and the land, he curved his body, so that they could not pass ; the tail was moored on land ; the mouth was opened under water, and brought so close to the shore, that the fish had no method of escaping, but through the mouth, where they were entrapped.
Side 24 - The power of the alligator is in his great strength ; and the chief means of his attack or defence is his large tail, so well contrived by nature to supply his wants, or guard him from danger, that it reaches, when curved into half a circle, his enormous mouth. Woe be to him who goes within the reach of this tremendous thrashing instrument; for no matter how strong or muscular — if human, he must suffer greatly...
Side 22 - ... relics of three of his children scattered over the floor, and an enormous crocodile, with several young ones around her, occupied in devouring the remnants of their horrid meal. He looked around for a weapon, but finding none, and aware that unarmed he could do nothing, he raised himself gently on his bed, and contrived to crawl from thence through a window, hoping that his wife, whom he left sleeping, might with the remaining children rest undiscovered till his return. He flew to his nearest...
Side 7 - A foreign writer, in alluding to the imperceptible insects, exclaims — " there is not a single species that does not of itself deserve a historian !" Ehrenberg devoted ten years to the Infusoria alone.
Side 24 - It was on that river particularly thousands of the largest size were killed, when the mania of having shoes, boots, or saddleseats, made of their hides lasted. It had become an article of trade, and many of the squatters and strolling Indians followed for a time no other business. The discovery that their skins are not sufficiently firm and close-grained to prevent water or dampness long, put a stop to their general destruction, which had already become very apparent. The leather prepared from these...

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