136 DE. J. B. GEAT'S SYNOPSIS OF THE SPECIES 



The palatal bone in all the genera is truncated or rounded in front, except in 

 Mecistops, where it is nari'ow, short, and acute in front. 



The skulls of the genera Bomhifroiis, OophoUs, and Molinia are easily distinguished in 

 the young state, — the face of Oopholis being much longer and narrower than that of 

 Bombifrons, and that of Molinia is longer and narrower than that of Ooj)holis. The 

 measurements following are for three skulls which appear to be from animals nearly of the 

 state of growth, same in inches and lines : — 



BomUfrons. Oojpholis. Molinia. 



in. lines. in. lines. in. lines. 



Length of the skuU, entire 4 8 5 8 6 9 



Length of face to front of orbit 2 8 3 6 4 4 



Length of forehead to front of orbit 2 2 1 2 4 



Length of palate from condyle to front end of 1 , , „ , „ ,^ 



a I J Ion 34 3 10 



'} 2 11 



palatine 



Length of middle suture of maxilla 1 2 1 Ij 1 7 



Length of middle suture of intermaxilla 9 1 3 1 6 



Width at occiput 2 6 2 5 2 10| 



Width at hinder contraction of beak 1 6 1 4 1 4i 



Width at notch 9 9 9 



The dorsal scales present considerable variations in diflferent specimens from the same 

 locality ; but, allowing for such variations, the genera '..lay be arranged thus : — 



1. The dorsal scales nearly uniformly keeled, in four or six longitudinal series; the 

 outer series ovate-elongate. Oopholis. 



2. The dorsal scales nearly uniformly keeled, quadrilateral, as broad as long. Croco- 

 dilus, Palinia, Molinia, and Mecistops. 



3. The dorsal scales quadrilateral, as broad as long ; the vertebral series scarcely 

 keeled, the lateral series irregular and keeled. Halcrosia and Molinia. 



The eyelid of the genus Halcrosia is thickened with hard bony plates, as in 

 some of the Alligators, with which it also agrees in the external form of the head and 

 the disposition of the nuchal shield. In all the other genera it is thin and mem- 

 branaceous. 



Synopsis of Genera. 

 I. Cervical disk rhombic, separated from the dorsal shield. Normal Crocodiles. 



A. Nuchal scutella none. Dorsal plates ovate-elongate, in four or six longitudinal 



series. Estuarine Crocodiles. 



1. Oopholis. Asia and North Australia. 



B. Nuchal plates four, in a transverse series. Dorsal plates as broad as long, 



square. FluviatQe Crocodiles. 



