NOTE 3.—It cannot be doubted that Marco’s serpents here are crocodiles, in spite of his strange mistakes about their having only two feet and one claw on each, and his imperfect knowledge of their aquatic habits. He may have seen only a mutilated specimen. But there is no mistaking the hideous ferocity of the countenance, and the “eyes bigger than a fourpenny loaf,” as Ramusio has it. Though the actual _eye_ of the crocodile does not bear this comparison, the prominent _orbits_ do, especially in the case of the _Ghaṛiyál_ of the Ganges, and form one of the most repulsive features of the reptile’s physiognomy. In fact, its presence on the surface of an Indian river is often recognisable only by three dark knobs rising above the surface, viz. the snout and the two orbits. And there is some foundation for what our author says of the animal’s habits, for the crocodile does sometimes frequent holes at a distance from water, of which a striking instance is within my own recollection (in which the deep furrowed track also was a notable circumstance). The Cochin Chinese are very fond of crocodile’s flesh, and there is or was a regular export of this dainty for their use from Kamboja. I have known it eaten by certain classes in India. (_J. R. G. S._ XXX. 193.) The term _serpent_ is applied by many old writers to crocodiles and the like, _e.g._ by Odoric, and perhaps allusively by Shakspeare (“_Where’s my Serpent of Old Nile?_”). Mr. Fergusson tells me he was once much struck with the _snake-like_ motion of a group of crocodiles hastily descending to the water from a high sand-bank, without apparent use of the limbs, when surprised by the approach of a boat.[2] Matthioli says the gall of the crocodile surpasses all medicines for the removal of pustules and the like from the eyes. Vincent of Beauvais mentions the same, besides many other medical uses of the reptile’s carcass, including a very unsavoury cosmetic. (_Matt._ p. 245; _Spec. Natur._ Lib. XVII. c. 106, 108.) [“According to Chinese notions, Han Yü, the St. Patrick of China, having persuaded the alligators in China that he was all-powerful, induced the stupid saurians to migrate to Ngo Hu or ‘Alligators’ Lake’ in the Kwang-tung province.” (_North-China Herald_, 5th July, 1895, p. 5.) Alligators have been found in 1878 at Wu-hu and at Chen-kiang (Ngan-hwei and Kiang-Su). (See _A. A. Fauvel, Alligators in China_, in _Jour. N. China B. R. A. S._ XIII. 1879, 1–36.)—H. C.]