CATALOGUE OF SHIELD REPTILES. 



Fig. 1 l. 



Fig. 16. 



Fist. 15. 



Fig. 17. 



Mecistops cataphractus, young. Head and nuchal and cervical shields. 



same holds good in < '. Si hlegdii, where, as with the Gavials, 

 tin' nasal terminates a short way in front of the orbits, and 

 does not enter into the formation of the anterior portion of 

 the beak *' (p. 3(53). " This character is a good diagnostic 

 mark between the Crocodile proper and the Gavial, sepa- 

 rating C. Schhgelii from the latter genus, under which 

 Midler ranged it" (p. 363). 



Dr. Balfour Baikie states, " In all essentials the skull of 

 the Mecistops shows it to be properly classed as a member 

 of the family Croeodilida? rather than the Gavialidae. The 

 teeth are irregular, the sides of the jaw not parallel; there 

 is i distinct swelling opposite the ninth remaining upper 

 molar, and the lower canines are received into notches in 

 the upper jaw."— P. Z. S. 1857, p. 58. 



1. Mecistops cataphractus. (African False Gavial.) 

 (Figs. 14-17.) 



Crocodilus biscutatus, Ouvitr, Oss. Fuss. iii. pp. 52, 65, t. 5 



(very young). 

 Crocodilus bisulcatus, Bonj, Diet. Class. H. N. v. p. 108 



(misprint). 

 Crocodilus cataphractus (Crocodile a nuque cuirassee), 

 r, 0.<s. Foss. v. t. 5. f. 1, 2 [copied, A. Bum. Arch, 

 du Mvs. x. t. 14. tig. 2J. 



Than. 4" Bibr. E. G. iii. p. 126 (young). 

 Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1834, p. 110. 

 Owen, Cat. Osteol. Spec. Mus. Coll. Surg. p. 155. n. 710 

 (Cuvier's type). 

 The Crocodile, Bowdich, Madeira, p. 232. 



Crocodilus leptorhynchus, Bennett, P. Z. S. 1835, p. 129. 

 A. Durn. Arch, du Mus. x. p. 252, & i. p. 171, t. 14. 

 f. 1. 

 Mecistops cataphractus, Gray, Cat. B. M. p. 58 ; Trans. 



Zool. Soc. 1869, vi. p. 157. 

 Mecistops Bennettii, Gray, Cat. B. M. p. 57. 

 Gavial of Senegal, Gray, Hep. Brit. Assoc. 1862, Sect. p. 107. 

 Mecistops, Balfour Baikie, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 58. 



Hah. West and Central Africa : ? Fernando Po (Bennett) ; 

 Gaboon, Lagos. Central Africa, river Binue (Baikie). 



The species has been described from small young speci- 

 mens. It grows to a large size. There is an imperfect 

 specimen which is scarcely adult, in the British Museum, 

 that was sent from Fernando Po by Capt. 11. F. Burton, 

 which must have been 13 or 14 feet long. Unfortunately 

 it wants the head ; the body is 5 feet, and the tail 8^ feet 

 long. 



The specimen originally sent by Mr. Bennett was said 

 to have come from Fernando Po ; but Dr. Balfour Baikie 

 observes that Fernando Po is a small volcanic island, totally 

 without the muddy rivers delighted in by Crocodiles, and 

 possessing nothing but streams (which during the rainy 

 season are tumultuous mountain-torrents) with rocky beds. 

 —P. Z. S. 1857, p. 58. 



Most probably Mr. Bennett's specimen came from the 

 coast, and was only received through agents at Fernando Po. 



Cuvier, in his essay, described, under the name of Croco- 



