OF RECENT CROCODILIANS. 139 
The British Museum received from the Leyden Museum an adult skull of the 
Crocodilus (biporcatus) raninus from Borneo; it is 22 inches long, and agrees in every 
respect with the Oopholis porosus from India. 
Mr. Landsborough observes, “ harmless as this animal is in Australia, we were not 
anxious for his company in his native element.”—Exploration of Australia, p. 70. 
b. The dorsal scales in four series; the vertebral series broader than long, the outer 
series elongate-ovate. 
2. OOPHOLIS PONDICHERIANUS. (Pondicherry Crocodile.) 
Oopholis pondicherianus, Gray, Ann. & Mag. N. H. 3rd series, x. 268. 
Crocodilus pondicerianus, Giinther, Rept. B. I. t. 7. 
The specimen of this species in the British Museum is small, and only just hatched, 
but it is quite distinct from all the others. The vertebral series of plates are nearly 
twice as broad as those in O. porosus; the others are also rather wider in comparison ; 
all the dorsal scales are more keeled, and the keels on the scales on the side of the 
base of the tail are higher, and more prominent. The black spots are larger and 
further apart. 
The specimen was purchased of M. Parzudaki of Paris, it having formed part of a 
collection which he received from the French Museum. 
B. Nuchal plates four, or rarely two or five, in a cross series. The dorsal plates as 
broad as long, in four or six series. Fluviatile or River Crocodiles. 
a. The intermaxillary bones truncated behind, with a nearly straight premavillary 
suture. Face broad, oblong. 
To observe the form of the premaxillary suture in the preserved specimens, it is only 
necessary to elevate the skin of the front of the palate, and lay the bones bare. 
* Toes webbed. Legs distinctly fringed. Asiatic Crocodiles. 
2. BomMBIFRONS. 
The premaxillary suture straight, or rather convex forwards. The face oblong; 
forehead with nodules in front of the orbits, but no distinct preorbital ridges. Nuchal 
plates four, in a curved line. Cervical plates six, in the form of a rhombic shield, 
distinct from the dorsal one. Dorsal plates oblong, rather elongate, all keeled, in six 
longitudinal series, and with two short lateral series of keeled scales, The legs fringed 
with a series of triangular elongated scales. Toes webbed. 
Bombifrons, Gray, Ann. & Mag. N. H. 3 series, x. 269. 
Skull with the nostril separate, the internal nostril as broad as wide, with a 
deep pit on each side in front of it, and rather bent down, so as to open nearly 
horizontally. 
