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face, receiving the head of the rib, is a deep pit : these are two peculiarities 

 which do not exist in the known crocodiles. In the place, also, of the 

 single inferior spinous apophysis, which exists in the known crocodiles, 

 there are two ridges, each terminating in a tubercle placed forwards. 

 The body of these fossil vertebrae is also more contracted in its middle 

 than is that of the vertebrae of the common crocodile. 



The other series of vertebra also appeared to belong to a crocodile, 

 different from those which now exist, as well as from that whose ver- 

 tebrae have just been described. Their characteristic differences are : 

 their body is not contracted in the middle, and their transverse apophy- 

 ses do not arise from the reunion of several projecting ridges. They 

 therefore resemble those of the living crocodiles much more than the 

 preceding ; but their principal difference, distinguishing them from the 

 preceding fossil vertebras, as well as from those of the living crocodiles, 

 is that the faces of their bodies are neither of them convex; but are both 

 slightly concave. In other respects, in the disposition of their apophy- 

 ses, in the suture which connects the annular part and processes with 

 the body of the vertebrse, &c. they agree with the vertebrae of crocodiles 

 in general. A vertebrse belonging to this species is represented Plate 

 XVIII. Fig. 5, which answers to the second dorsal vertebrae of the com- 

 mon crocodile, by the position of its costal pit a, b ; but differs from it 

 in having no inferior spinous apophysis. 



It is undoubtedly exceedingly desirable, to determine to which of these 

 two systems of vertebrae, the fragments of the head and jaws just de- 

 scribed may be referred. This is however, at present, hardly possible, 

 the specimens which have been hitherto described not having been found 

 under circumstances which would allow of determining the connection. 

 M. Cuvier, however, thiriks it most probable, that the nearly complete 

 jaw belonged to the same animal to which the first described vertebrae be- 

 longed ; and that the fragment of the jaw which seems to approach 

 nearer to that of the Gavial might be placed with the second species of 

 vertebrae. It must be however observed, that the vertebrae of the second 



