654 BRITISH FOSSIL REPTILES. 



Crocodilian Vertebrae. Plate 42, figs. 4 — 12. 



Of the mimerous scattered vertebrae in the different slabs of the Purbeck matrix 

 those specimens have been selected for figuring which exemplify the CrocodiHan 

 characters of different portions of the vertebral column. 



The subject of fig. 4, PI. 42, is from the neck or fore part of the trunk, in which 

 the hypapophysis {hy) has not subsided on the under surface of the centrum ; the 

 processes for the head (' parapophysis,' p) and tubercle (' diapophysis,' d) of the proxi- 

 mally bifurcate rib are well developed. The pre- (i) and post- (z') zygapophyses, 

 together with the neural spine (».«.), complete the series of developments of this complex 

 type of Crocodilian vertebrae.^ 



Figs. 5 and 6 are two consecutive, but slightly dislocated, vertebrae from the hinder 

 part of the trunk. The long and broad diapophyses show the notch {d) where the 

 simple and short hinder ribs were articulated, each by a single joint, with the rest of 

 their osseous ' segment ' or vertebra." 



Figs. 7 and 8 are side views of mutilated hinder trunk vertebrae. 



Fig. 9 gives a back view of one of the sacral vertebrae, showing the robust processes 

 represented by coalesced pleurapophyses. The suture is traceable by which the latter 

 articulate with both centrum and neural arch.^ 



Fig. 10 is a caudal vertebra, with the haemal arch and spine (a) ; a front view of the 

 latter is given in fig. 11 ; the vertebra is from that part of the tail where the pleura- 

 pophyses cease to be developed.* 



Fig. 12 shows the completely ossified substance in a section of a dorsal centrum. 



Fig. 13 probably belonged to Brachydedes minor. 



All these and other detached vertebrae indicate the dwarfed proportions of the 

 Crocodilia characteristic of the fresh-water deposits of the ' Feather-bed.' Many 

 correspond in size and shape with those shown iri sitd in T/ieriosucJius, PI. 45. The 

 subjects of figures 4 — 10 I am disposed to refer to NannosucJtus. 



Crocodilian Scutes. PI. 43, figs. 4, 5, 11, 12. 



In almost every slab containing Crocodilian remains are scutes, or portions or 

 impressions of scutes. They include the ' peg-and-groove ' type, the hexagonal with 



I No. 687, ' Catalogue of Osteology,' 4to. ut supra. 



- No. 689, op. cit., p. 153. 



' It accords with the character of the sixth cervical vertebra in Gavialis gangeticus (' Catal. of 

 Osteology, Mils. Coll. Chir.,' 4to, vol. i, p. 152, No. 684), save in the minor development of the 

 hypapophysis, which indicates a position in the vertebral column somewhat further back. 



* See No. G8C of the same series and 'Catalogue.' 



