CROCODILES. 



53 



The subjects which compose this Order are few 

 in number, and are all comprised in a single 

 Family, which we shall presently describe more in 

 detail. They are natives of both hemispheres, 

 but are confined to the warmer regions of both, 

 neither Europe nor Australia possessing any 

 known species : they all inhabit fresh waters. 



Family L CROcoDiLiDiE. 



(Crocodiles.') 



Messrs, Dumeril and Bibron enumerate the 

 following characters as proper to this family. 

 The body is depressed, lengthened, protected on 

 the back with solid and keeled scutcheons, or 

 shields ; the tail is longer than the trunk, com- 

 pressed, the plates here set in rings, and rising 

 into a ridge of pointed crests ; the limbs are four 

 in number, short ; the toes of the hind feet united 

 by a swimming membrane ; three claws 

 only on each foot ; the head is flat- 

 tened, lengthened into a muzzle, in 

 the front of which are the nostrils, not 

 far apart, upon a fleshy tubercle, fur- 

 nished with moveable suckers ; the 

 gape opens beyond the base of the 

 skull ; the tongue is fleshy, entire, 

 adherent, not protractile ; the teeth 

 are conical, simple, hollowed towards 

 the root, unequal in length, but placed 

 in a single row. The cavity at the 

 root of each tooth serves as a case or 

 sheath for the germ of the tooth des- 

 tined to replace it, which is to be of greater bulk ; 



TOOTH OF 

 CROCODILE. 



