Hai Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Toad (mǐn) Kangxi strokes: 25 Page 1525, Entry 01 Pronounced tuo. According to the Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen), it is a water creature. Lu Ji says the crocodile (tuo) resembles a lizard, reaching lengths of over one zhang. Its scales are like armor, and its skin is thick and tough, suitable for covering drums. Book of Odes (Shijing), Deya section: The crocodile drums beat with a booming sound. Another view suggests the booming sound of the drum is an imitation of the crocodile's call. The Continued Records of Extensive Observations (Xu Bowuzhi) states that the crocodile grows to one zhang in length, and its call resembles the sound of a drum. The Piya states that the call of the crocodile corresponds to the striking of the night watch, a phenomenon known in the Wu and Yue regions as the crocodile watch. Furthermore, the crocodile calls when it is about to rain, and the common people use it to predict precipitation. Book of Rites (Liji), Yue Ling section: During the final month of summer, the Son of Heaven commands the official in charge of fisheries to capture sea dragons and hunt crocodiles, and to present tortoises and soft-shelled turtles. It is also written in a variant form (shan). The Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals (Lushi Chunqiu) records that Emperor Zhuanxu commanded the crocodile (shan) to lead the music; it lay on its back in the water and struck its belly with its tail, producing a sound like ying, which is the crocodile. Also mentioned in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Jin Family Lineage: The son of Duke Huan of Quwo was named Shan. The Suoyin commentary notes that Shan is pronounced tuo. Pronounced tan. Pronounced shan. The meaning is the same. Pronounced tian. Ma Rong, Guangcheng Ode: Left hand leading the kui-dragon, right hand lifting the jiao-dragon and crocodile. In spring present the king-tuna, in summer present the soft-shelled turtle and tortoise. Textual verification: The original text regarding the creature striking its belly with its tail to produce a sound has been corrected from shan to ying, in accordance with the original text of the Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals (Lushi Chunqiu).