Study of a crocodile on the shore, a castle beyond

An old inscription originally attached to the drawing suggests that the crocodile was drawn from life in London in October 1734. It is possible that the crocodile was part of the menagerie of exotic animals kept at the Tower of London, most of which were gifts from foreign rulers. In 1834, the menagerie was moved to Regent's Park where it formed the founding collection of the London Zoo.