Now what is the value of such a knowledge?
What is it to compare with a knowledge of the appearance, the structure, and character of the plant--of its properties and the ends for which nature designed it--of its uses to the birds and beasts around--of its uses to man--how it makes his mattress to sleep on, stuffs his sofas, and saddles, and chairs equal to the best horse-hair, and would even feed his horse in case of a pinch?
In my opinion, these are the facts worth knowing; and who are the men who publish such facts to the world?
Not your closet-naturalists, I fancy." "True, very true, brother; but let us not vex ourselves about such things; go on, and tell us what you know of the crocodiles." "Well, then," said Lucien, returning to his natural tone and manner, "as I have already said, the crocodiles are divided into three genera--_crocodiles_, _gavials_, and _alligators_.

It is Baron Cuvier who has made this distinction; and he rests it more upon the shape of the head and the set of the teeth, than upon any real difference in the appearance or habits of these animals.

The crocodiles have long, pointed, narrow snouts, and a large tooth in each side of the lower jaw, which, when the mouth shuts, passes into a groove in the upper.

`These are the _true_ crocodiles,' says Monsieur Cuvier.

The gavials have also long, pointed, narrow, roundish snouts, but their teeth are nearly equal-sized and even.