88 



shape exhibited in the alligators. The palatal foramina are of 

 immense length ; they are more than one third as long as the 

 entire bony palate. Their width is also considerable. 



The viaxillaries are long and very broad ; the alveolar 

 border is of about the same shape as in the crocodile, but less 

 decidedly sinuous ; and the posterior part passes in below the 

 alveolus of the lower jaw. The convexity of the upper sur- 

 face of the maxillaries is not so well marked as in the true 

 crocodiles. It is nearly as flat as in the alligator. The pala- 

 tine plates of the maxillaries are short, broad, and nearly flat, 

 arching slightly to form the alveolus, and perforated along 

 this border by rows of foramina. 



The premaxillaries are very short ; they curve strongly 

 outwards from the notch and enclose the large anterior narial 

 opening, which is distinctively crocodilian (as distinguished from 

 other genera) in shape. The muzzle ends quite sharply. The 

 palatine processes are short and convex in both directions, and 

 the incisive foramen is heart-shaped. The alveolus is quite 

 regular in outline ; it is pitted in front for the first mandibular 

 teeth, but there is no perforation for them. 



The teeth are short, stout, compressed so as to form cut- 

 ting-edges, and are somewhat obtuse. They are finely striated 

 from base to tip. The premaxillary held four teeth ; these 

 are all broken off, but from their fangs it appears that they 

 formed an uninterrupted row, and were subequal in size. The 

 maxillary accommodated fifteen teeth, of which the fifth is 

 the largest, and forms a very prominent canine. The posterior 

 maxillary teeth are proportionately larger, and more equal 

 than in either crocodile or alligator. 



The nasals are rather broad ; they send processes into the 

 anterior narial opening, which tend to divide it, but this divi- 

 sion was probably not complete. The limits of the prefron- 

 tals and lachrymals are so obscure as to preclude description. 



The front a Is are long and very narrow, though wider than 

 in the alligator. They are smooth and flat, exhibiting no con- 

 cavity on top. They expand considerably at the posterior 

 part of the orbit, at the sutures with the post-frontals. These 

 bones are long, stout, and curved very strongly outwards. 



The mastoids are of remarkable size ; they project far 

 backward along the tympanic, and encroach largely upon the 



