EXISTING CROCODILES 



2379 



or premaxilla of the adult. It belongs, indeed, to a group of four species, differing 

 from the preceding assemblage in the length of the snout varying from rather more 

 than one and a half to just over twice its basal width; and also by the line of union 

 between the anterior and main jawbones running in a V-shape up the palate. The 

 presence of a large ridge running down the skull in front of the eye serves to dis- 

 tinguish this species not only from all the other members of the group, but likewise 

 from the Indian crocodile. The present species generally, if not invariably, inhab- 

 its the tidal portions of rivers, from whence it descends into the sea, where it has 



ESTUARINE CROCODILE. 



(One-thirtieth natural size.) 



been observed floating at considerable distances from land. These estuarine and 

 partially marine habits will readily account for the wide geographical distribution of 

 this crocodile, which ranges from India to Australia. Unknown on the western 

 coast of India, the estuarine crocodile is abundant in the lower courses of the rivers 

 of Bengal and other parts of the eastern side of India, as well as in Ceylon and 

 Burma, whence it extends eastward to Southern China, Northern Australia, and 

 the islands of the Solomon and Fiji groups. In point of size it probably surpasses 



