334 MR. G. KREFFT ON AUSTRALIAN CROCODILES. [Mar. 18, 



3. Remarks on Australian Crocodiles, and Description of a 

 Ne\r Species. By Gerard Krefft, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S.* 



[Received February 17, 1873.] 



About a year or two ago I sent to Dr. Gray the photograph of a 

 Crocodile's skull, which he examined and considered tobeundescribed. 

 Tbe name of Tomistoma krefftii was proposed for it ; but I cannot 

 find the description in any of the works at my disposal. 



During the process of cleaning and bleaching the skull, it was in- 

 jured by rats, and the end of the snout is now broken and some teeth 

 lost ; otherwise it is in tolerable condition, and appears to agree with 

 Croeodilus schlegelii, as figured by De Blainvdle (Osteographie, 

 Atlas, vol. ii. pi. 5), with this difference, that the mandibular sym- 

 physis extends to the 1 5th tooth in C. schlegelii, and to the 6th 

 tooth only in T. krefftii (Gray). There are 18, or perhaps 19, teeth 

 above, and 1 5 teeth below, on each side, a notch being observed be- 

 hind the 4th (or 5th) tooth, with a small pit for the lower canines. 



* Tbe following letter, referring to tbis paper, has been addressed to tbe Se- 

 cretary by Dr. J. E. Gray, F.E.S. :— 



Sir, — Mr. Erefft has just sent to me the photograph of a Crocodile from Aus- 

 tralia, which he has named Croeodilus johnsonii, with the request that I would 

 communicate to the Society some observations upon it. 



Tbe photograph is about 22 inches long, and represents the dorsal view of the 

 animal. 



There is no doubt that it represents a species of Crocodilida, from the form of 

 the cervical and nuchal shields ; but in many respects the beak is similar to that 

 of Tomistoma, the Bornean Gavial. The beak is more slender than in any 

 tvpieal Crocodile of tbe Old World that has occurred to me. It is somewhat like 

 that of Molinia intermedia, from tbe Orinoco, figured in the Trans. Zool. Soc. 

 1869, vi. p. 151. f. 4, 5, and pi. 32. f. 4^6 ; but it differs from that species in the 

 beak being more slender, not being swollen on the sides, or so broad and circular 

 at tbe end, and also in the shields of the neck and back, which are very 

 different. 



In many respects the appearance of the animal, and the form of the beak, are 

 much like (especially in the want of dilatation at tbe sides, and in the moderate 

 breadth of the end) those of the African false Gavial, Mecistops cataphractus; but 

 it has well-developed lateral cervical shields, which are wanting in all tbe African 

 specimens I have hitherto observed ; and one cannot understand how a West- 

 African Crocodile can have been taken to or found in Australia. 



Judging from the photograph, I believe it to be a new species of Crocodile ; 

 and the form, as far as I know, is peculiar to Australia. 



I am, Sir, 



Tours truly, 



Joh>" Edw. Grat. 



P.S. — I strongly suspect that tbe photograph of the head for which Mr. Krefft 

 says I had proposed the name of Tomistoma krefftii belongs to Croeodilus john- 

 sonii. 



The examination of a photograph of the upper part of the head would induce 

 one, on account of the slender conical form of the beak and tbe absence of large 

 canine teeth, to consider it a species of Tomistoma ; but the examination of the 

 photographs of the skin, showing the eight cervical plates separated from the 

 dorsal shield, and the short symphysis of the lower jaw, mentioned by Mr. Krefft, 

 show that it is a Crocodile, and not a Gavial. 



