VIII. — REPTILIA AND BATRACHIA. 65 



Sphargis COriacea, from Newcastle, N.S.W. and E. Australia. 



Carettochelys inSCUlptUS, (Ramsay), a new remarkable form 



from New Guinea. 

 Chelonia squamata, from Northern Australia. 



Order II.— OROOODILIA,— The Crocodiles, Alligators 

 and Caymans inhabit both the fresh and salt waters of tropical 

 countries, and are the largest reptiles now existing, having 

 been known to grow to 25 feet in length. They have a fully 

 developed backbone and ribs and four limbs, the hind pair being 

 fully webbed ; the outer covering consists of horny scales, with soft 

 skin interposed. 



Crocodiles have one tooth on each side of the lower jaw longer 

 than the others, so that it is seen outside when the mouth is shut ; 

 and the hind feet are webbed. Alligators do not show the long 

 tooth when the mouth is closed, and the hind feet are only 

 partially webbed. Specimens are shown in the Central Hall, 

 Upper Floor, and skeletons in a case in the Osteological Hall, 

 Ground Floor. Crocodiles are found in Africa, India, North 

 Australia, South and Central America. Alligators are found 

 only in the warmer parts of North and South America. 



The Australian species are — 



Crocodilus porosus. 



johnstonii. 



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Order III.— LAOERTILIA, or LIZARDS.— In general 



appearance these reptiles are well known. The four limbs are 

 usually well developed, but in some snake-like forms they are 

 rudimentary. The teeth are not set in sockets in the jaws, but 

 are often united to the bone. The skin is covered with scales. 

 The backbone is composed of many vertebrae, and there is usually 

 a long tail. The Lizards are not poisonous, with one exception 

 — the Heloderma of Mexico and Arizona — which has a poison 

 gland and fangs in its upper jaw, and whose bite is occasionally 

 fatal even to man. 



There are many families of Lizards, distinguished mainly by 

 the form of the feet, the former being either furnished with 

 disk-like plates (as in the Geckonidce) which enable their 



