CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS^ AND SNAKES. 175 



Mr. W, T. Hornaday originally observed this species to be au inhabi- 

 tant of the seacoast, streams, and lakes of southeastern Florida,^ rang- 

 ing north as far as Lake Worth, a hundred miles north of the southern 

 extremity of the State. From this point Mr. Ward, of Eochester, New 

 York, obtained a specimen 9 feet in length. Mr. Hornaday supposed 

 these individuals to represent a species different from that of more 

 southern waters, but I have been unable to detect any difference. The 

 largest specimen he obtained measured 14 feet in length. 



In its preference for salt water this species differs from the alligator. 

 It is said also to be more vicious in its disposition. A si)ecimen 

 between 4 and 5 feet in length was once sent me by my late friend, 

 Professor Poey, of Havana. I kept it tethered in a yard and observed 

 its manners. It was ill-natured and not afraid to attack either by 

 snapping its jaws or striking with its tail. 



A specimen of this species was sent to the National Museum from 

 Mazatlan, on the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico. This is the nearest point 

 to the Nearctic realm at which it has been found on the Pacific coast. 



SQUAMATA. 



1. GENERAL ANATOMY. • 



No quadratojugal (zygomatic) arch; quadrate therefore articulated 

 by its proximal extremity only. No os tabulare. Paroccipital present; 

 opisthotic early fused with the supramastoid, probably fused with the 

 parietal. Nostrils, both external and internal, subterminal. Maxillo- 

 palatines, i)alatines, and pterygoids distinct, paired; ectopterygoid 

 present and distinct. Teeth on maxillary and dentary bones. Stapes 

 with a long shaft, or columella, terminating in a cartilage. 



Vertebral centra proco'lons, rarely ami)liic<i'lous; caudals with chev- 

 rons. Neural arches coossified with centrum, except atlas, which has 

 neurapophyses separate from body and from each other; odontoid 

 j)rocess distinct. Not more than two vertebra) in sacrum. Cervical 

 ribs. Dorsal ribs single (i. e., tubercular) headed, articulating with 

 diapophyses; one to several pairs articulating with sternum. No 

 sacral ribs. No tegumentary abdominal bones. 



Scapular arch, when developed, consisting of suprascapula, scapula, 

 precoracoid, coracoid, (;lavicle, and interclavicle; frequently a pro- 

 scapula. The scapula is not coossified with tlie other elements. Cora- 

 coid articulating with the simple idate-like sternum. Pelvic arch, 

 when complete, embracing the three elements, which inclose below a 

 large obturator foramen. Ilium directed backward and upward. 



Brain with large olfactory lobes, which are not as large as the hemi- 

 spheres. The latter are larger than the thalami, and their ventricles 

 are on the external side of their nucleus (corpus striatum), Thalami 

 exposed above as well as laterally. Cerebellum small, without flocculi. 



' American Naturalist, IX, 1875, i>. 498. 



