291 



ber of the phalanges are, beginning with the great toe, two, 

 three, four, four ; the little toe has no nail. 



It is necessary to observe, that the preceding sketch is 

 referrible to all the species of crocodiles : even the head of 

 the gavial, the head which has so particular a form, has the 

 same bones as the others, but, to render them conformable 

 to the great lengthening of the muzzle, they exist in dif- 

 ferent proportions. 



Cuvier notices a curious modification of the sphenoidal 

 plates which form a vault over the palate bones, making, 

 instead of a semicylindrical canal, a hollow of the size of a 

 hen's egg, which communicates with the nasal canal only by 

 a middling-sized opening.. He has not seen it in the little 

 gavial ; and from having seen this part more inflated in the 

 old crocodiles from the Indies than in the young, he is not 

 sure that it may not be, as in other sinus's, the result of age. 



Fossil Crocodiles, and other Saurian A)iimals,* 



Order, Sauri, 



Division I. — Agreeing with recent genera, but speci- 

 fically distinct. 

 Gen us I . — Crocodilus, 



The two species of Honfleur and Havre. \ 

 The crocodilus 2^riscus of Soemmering (Mutiich Trans- 

 actions.) 



* Having been favoured by the Rev. W. D. Conybeare with a 

 systematic arrangement of the subjects of this section, and a com- 

 pendious statement of their respective characters, I have introduced 

 this valuable communication into the text ; placing, in notes, sucli 

 collateral matter as appeared to be required. 



f The remains of crocodiles have been found in the neighbour- 

 hood of Honfleur and Havre,- respecting which the celebrated Cuvier 

 has ascertained the most interesting circumstances. Tliese bones 

 are stated to have been found in a bed of grevish bUie calcareous 



