1873.] MR. G. KREFFT ON AUSTRALIAN CROCODILES. 335 



The 5th tooth, counting from this notch backwards, is the largest of 

 the upper series ; below, the 4th tooth is the largest. 



The genus Tomistoma is described as: — " Teeth fg— fjj, the mandibular 

 symphysis extending to the 15th tooth, and the intermaxillary bone 

 reaching to the 2nd canine." My specimen does not agree with this, 

 and therefore it cannot belong to the genus Tomistoma. Of course, 

 Dr. Gray could not know these facts, as he only had a photograph 

 to go by ; aud I remarked the difference only since the skin had 

 been removed from the skull. 



A few days ago I received a fine and perfect skin of another Cro- 

 codile from Cardwell, through the kindness of Mr. C. Bloxland, 

 jun., of Ryde, on the Paramatta river ; and of this Crocodile, which 

 I think is new to science, I shall give a short description. 



Crocodiltjs johnsoni, sp. nov. 



Total length 7 feet, the head being 1 foot 4 inches. There are two 

 groups of nuchal plates upon the neck, the first consisting of four 

 disks of unequal size, divided by an interspace of about half an inch, 

 the whole resembling in shape the figure oo. 



The second group, divided from the first by about 2 inches, may 

 be compared to a distorted rhombic figure. It consists of two large 

 disks, rather square in shape above, of a smaller pair below (all 

 touching each other), and of an outer pair, one on the right, the 

 other on the left side. All the disks are strongly keeled. 



A single disk forms the first dorsal row of plates, two disks the 

 next, the third and fourth having four disks each ; after which fol- 

 low two rows of six plates, and seven of eight, the outer ones being 

 rather feebly keeled. The number of plates then diminishes again, 

 there being two of six and four of four plates each, to the root of the 

 tail. The total number of plate-rows from the posterior nuchal 

 group to the base of the tail amounts to 19 in all. The tail is en- 

 circled by 29 bands up to the tip. The teeth number jfjp-jf, fc ^ e ^ tn 

 above and the 12th below being the strongest. The hindermost 

 teeth are short and conical, the rest being more elongate ; and all are 

 flattened on the inner side. The first pair of lower front teeth fit 

 into perforations in the upper jaw. 



The narrowest part of the snout is contained nine times in its length 

 from the nostrils to the eyes. 



Colour dark greenish, with some broad spots on the side of the 

 tail. 



Discovered by Mr. Johnson, of Cardwell, Rockingham Bay, 

 Queensland, and supposed to be adult. 



Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 December 31, 1872. 



