SKELETON OF THE CKOCODILE. 



95 



baffled pursuer. It is a very curious character, and quite 

 peculiar to the lacertians — this ossification of the centrum 

 from two points and their incomplete coalescence : it adds 

 nothing to the power of bending, or to any other action 

 of the tail, but indicates a prevision of the liability to 

 their being caught by their long tail, and may be inter- 

 preted as a provision for their escape. The neural arch 

 has coalesced with the centrum throughout the tail; the 

 epiphysial line does not extend through that arch; but 

 its thin and brittle walls soon break, when the two parts 

 of the centrum are forcibly separated. 



Lizards, as is well known, have the power of reproduc- 

 ing the tail, but the vertebral axis is never ossified in the 

 new- formed part. 



OSTEOLOGY OF CROCODILES. 



The numerous and varied forms of fossil bones of ex- 

 tinct reptiles derive most elucidation from the skeleton 

 of the higher organized sauria of Cuvier, which now are 

 rightly held to constitute a distinct order, called Loricata^ 

 or Crocodilia ; a more complete description, therefore, will 

 be given of the skeleton of a member of this order, than 

 was deemed needful in regard to the lacertian group of 

 sauria. 



SKELETON OF THE CROCODILE (Crocodilus Ulloticun). 



