THE ALLIGATOR. 
Crocopitus Luctus. Cov. 
Te enormous Reptile from which this genus derives its 
name belongs to the same subdivision of that class as . 
the agile Lizard and the many-hued Chameleon, with 
which it was comprehended by Linneus under the single 
generic title of Lacerta. This group has subsequently 
been elevated to the rank of an order, consisting of 
numerous genera, among which the Crocodiles are dis- 
tinguished by the following characters. Their toes are 
five in number on the anterior feet, and four on the 
posterior; their sharp and conical teeth are arranged in 
a single series in each jaw; their tongue is flat, fleshy, 
and closely attached almost to its very edge; and their 
bodies are clothed with large, thick, square scales, the 
