But there are some things about the structure of the animal which are peculiar, and which may not strike you so readily.

You observe that his jaws open far back--even beyond the ears--where they are hinged or articulated into each other.

Now this is a peculiar formation, and the effect is, that when the alligator opens his mouth, his neck becomes somewhat bent upwards, giving him the appearance of having moved the upper instead of the under jaw." "Why I have often heard that that was so," remarked Francois.
"Many have thought so, and said so, since the time of Herodotus, who first propagated this absurd idea.

It is not the fact, however.

It is the lower jaw that moves, as in other vertebrated animals; but the appearance I have described leads to the mistake that has been made by careless observers.