Its jaws, though toothless, have cutting edges, a sharp beak, and power to the crushing of bones.

Its armour makes it invulnerable to birds and beasts of prey.

Like a log it lay on the beach, with its long alligator tail stretched up the bank and its serpentine head and tiny wicked eyes vigilantly watching the shore.

Its shell, broad and ancient, was fringed with green moss, and its scaly armpits exposed, were decked with leeches, at which a couple of peetweets pecked with eager interest, apparently to the monster's satisfaction.

Its huge limbs and claws were in marked contrast to the small, red eyes.