62 ALLIGATOR. 



/. Croc. Maunyi. 



Croc, du Mans, Cuv. Os. Fos. v. 169. 



Fossil in the lime stone of Mans. 



Some of these fossil species may belong to the next genus. 



Gen. III. ALLIGATOR, {Alligator.) 



Rostrum oblongum, dentibus inaequalibus, canina inferi- 

 ore utrinque in foveola maxillae supeiioris recondenda. 



M. Spix has divided this genus into two, according to the 

 shape of the head, the first, Jacaretinga, having the rostrum 

 acute, the second. Caiman, having it blunt and depressed. 



Their feet are more or less pectinated, and not fringed 

 on the side. 



The females of these animals lay their eggs in the sand, 

 and cover them over with leaves and straw. 



The North American species buries itself in the mud, 

 and sleeps during the winter. 



A. Pedes posteriores palmati. 



1 . Alligator Missisipensis,(Vike-headed A lligator.J Rostro 

 depresso parabolico, scutis nuchse 2, cervicis 4 in fasciis 

 duabus dispositis, dorsi subquadratis subcarinatis, digitis 

 exterioribus fere totis palmatis. 



Croc. Missisipensis Daud, Croc. Lucius, Cuv. Ann. 

 Mus. X. et Os Fos, v. t. 1, f. 8, 18, t. 2, f. 14. Lacerta 

 maxima, Catesby, ii. t. 63. Croc Cuvieri, Leach Zool. Mis. 

 ii. t. 102, Seba, 1, t. 103, f. 11..? 



The muzzle is very broad and depressed, nearly smooth ; 

 the neck has two nuchal plates, and 4 cervical ones placed 

 in two bands, the dorscd shields are sub-quadrate and scarcely 

 keeled, the outer toes of the hind feet are deeply and the 

 inner toes half webbed. 



For its anatomy see Harlan, Jour. Acad. N. S. Phil. iv. 

 242, and Hentz, Amer. Phil. Soc. Trans, ii. t. 2. 



B. Digiti Jissi ; scutella nuchalia cervicaliaque unita. 



1. Alligator Sclerops, {Spectacled Alligator). Rostro sub- 

 convexo cum porca transversa inter orbitas, scutis dorsi 

 quadratis subcarinatis, nuchee 6 parvis, cervicis 8 bicari- 

 natis in fasciis quatuor dispositis. 



