6 Watson, Notes on some British Mesozoic Crocodiles. 



The frontal is only represented by a small anterior 

 wedge, which lies between the posterior ends of the nasals. 

 The naso-frontal suture is 6cms. long, probably about 8cms. 

 when perfect. Only a small scrap of the right pre- 

 frontal is preserved. 



When the specimen is viewed laterally the dorsal 

 surface presents a very gentle concave curve. At the 

 anterior end the upper and lower surfaces become nearly 

 parallel. 



The chief feature shewn in the side view is a deep and 

 very marked rounded groove on the surface of the maxilla 

 and lachrymal. This groove leads into the orbit. It is 

 present in all MetriorJiyncJius skulls that I have examined ; 

 but as these are commonly preserved crushed flat in soft 

 clay, it is not usually well shewn. As seen here it is a 

 groove some 2cm. wide and icm. deep, leading in under 

 the facet for the articulation of the pre-frontal. The 

 lachrymal must be entirely covered by the groove. 

 Leading out of this groove and plunging downwards and 

 forwards into the cavity of the snout is a small foramen 

 about 5mms. in diameter. This is situated in the suture 

 between the nasals and the maxillae, and may conceivably 

 represent the pre-lachrymal foramen of Mystriosaurus, 



The large and well-marked groove represents a 

 small smooth notch which occurs at the junction of the 

 pre-frontal and lachrymal on the edge of the orbit in 

 Mystriosmirus and Pelagosaurus, and in a much less 

 marked form in Crocodilus and Gavialis. It probably 

 transmits a small nerve to the facial region. 



On the palatal aspect only the maxillae are preserved, 

 posteriorly, they show depressed rough surfaces to which 

 the palatines were attached. These latter bones extended 

 forward to the level of the anterior end of the third 

 alveolus. In front of this point the palate is divided into 



