293 



These are clearly distinct from Cuvier's first species, but 

 may perhaps agree with his second. Vertebrae, apparently 

 of that species, are found between the Kimmeridge clay and 

 coral rag, near Weymouth. Crocodilean vertebrae are also 

 mentioned as existing in the Sussex chalk, and vertebrae of 

 the same species with those of Honfleur are found in clay 

 between the green sand and the iron sand of that county.* 



and in the succeeding vertebrae ; the posterior surface, which is 

 convex in all known crocodiles, is here concave ; the anterior surface 

 of the succeeding vertebrae being of a convexity adapted to the 

 posterior concavity of the axis. This concavity, however, appears to 

 diminish in some of the succeeding vertebrae, and, in some, the two 

 surfaces appear to have been similar, nearly flat. 



The transverse apophysis arises by four ridges which form for it 

 a pyramidal base ; and in the place of a single inferior spinous 

 apophysis, as in known crocodiles, two ridges exist here, each termi- 

 nated by a tubercle. The bodies of this series of vertebrae are more 

 contracted in their middle than they are in the known crocodiles. 



But in the same bed, and often mixed with these, are found the 

 vertebrae of the other unknown crocodile alluded to. These 

 vertebrae are not contracted in the middle ; their transverse apo- 

 physes are not formed by the union of projecting ridges ; and the 

 chief circumstance in which they differ from the fossil species 

 already mentioned, and from the recent crocodile, is, that neither 

 anterior nor posterior surface of their bodies is convex, but both of 

 them slightly concave. The sutures, and the disposition of the 

 apophyses, are, at the same time, such as generically distinguish 

 crocodiles. 



* It was with peculiar satisfaction, that whilst this part of the 

 work was in the printer's hands, I was favoured by William Rhodes, 

 Esq. with some fossil bones which had been found in a pit dug in 

 the London clay, at the depth of eighteen feet from the surface, in 

 Hackney Fields. Finding these to be the remains of a crocodile, and 

 being aware that no such remains had hitherto been found in this 

 formation, I immediately repaired to the pit, with the hope of 

 securing the remaining parts of the skeleton ; but too late : all the 

 other fragments were irrecoverably lost, except a few broken 

 vertebrae. On perceiving the skeleton, which, I was informed, was 

 lying in a curved position, the workmen had rushed on it with their 



