CHAPTER II 



CROCODILES, DINOSAURS, AND FLYING DRAGONS ORDERS CROCO- 

 DILIA, DlNOSAURIA, AND ORNITHOSAURIA 



THE living crocodiles, among which may be included in the general sense not 

 only the reptiles to which that name more properly belongs, but likewise those 

 commonly designated alligators, caimans, and garials, are the only existing repre- 

 sentatives of three orders, which comprise among their members not only the most 

 highly organized of all Reptiles, and those which approach nearest in their organi- 

 zation to Birds, but likewise the largest of all terrestrial Reptiles, as, indeed, of any 

 land animals. Although these three orders possess many characteristics in com- 

 mon, it will be more convenient to describe the leading features of each separately, 

 in the course of which their common attributes will be pointed out. 



SKELETON AND ABDOMINAL RIBS OF CROCODILE. 



Sluggish in disposition, hideous in form, and huge in size, croco- 

 Characteristics... , . . ., . .. , 



, c diles alone among existing Reptiles serve in some measure to recall the 



diles giant Saurians with which the earth was peopled during earlier periods 



of its existence. In addition to their large bodily size, crocodiles are 

 characterized by the lizard-like form of their bodies, which are supported on short 

 limbs, and carried close to the ground. The long and powerful tail is much com- 

 pressed from side to side, so as to be an efficient propeller in swimming; its super- 

 ficial extent being increased by a vertical longitudinal crest on its upper surface, 

 this crest being formed of a double series of horny lobes in the basal half of the tail, 



(2367) 



