ORDER SAURIA. 105 



earth, and uncovers them at the precise moment of 

 exclusion.* 



The Caymans. Alligator. Cuv. 



Have the muzzle broad and obtuse ; the teeth un- 

 even, and the fourth* below enter into holes, and not 

 notches, in the upper-jaw. Their feet are only semi- 

 palmate, and without indentation. They have as 

 yet been known only in America. 



The name of Cayman^ or Caiman^ is given to the 

 crocodile. The French colonists employ it to desig- 

 nate the most common species of crocodile around 

 their habitations. The English and Dutch use in 

 the same sense the word Alligator, corrupted from 

 the Portuguese Lagarto, itself a corruption of La- 

 certa. 



Tlie Spectacled Cayman. Croc. Sclerops. Schn. 

 Seb. I. civ. 10. Cuv. Ann. Mus. X. i. 7 and 

 16, and ii. 3. 



Thus named from a transverse ridge which unites in 

 front the projecting edges of its orbits. It is the 



* The slender muzzled crocodile has been particularly observed by M. 

 Descourtils. — Add, The lozenged crocodile, Cr. Rhombifer. Cuv. Ann. 

 Mus. XII. pi. i. 1.; — The helmeted crocodile, Cr. Galeatus, Perrault, Mem. 

 pour Servir a THist. des An. pi. Ixiv. — if indeed this species, known by 

 this figure only, be well authenticated; — Tlie double- sh elded crocodile. 

 Croc, bkcutalus, Cuv. Ann. Mus. X. ii. 6., and Oss. f oss. t. V. part ii. pi. vi. 

 — of which but one or two individuals have been seen — The crocodile 

 ivilk armed lUipe, Cr, Calaphractus, Cuv. Oss. Foss. t. V. 2d part, pi, v. 

 f. 1 and 2. 



