106 CLASS REPTILIA. 



most common species in Guiana and Brazil. The 

 nape is armed with four transverse bands, with very 

 strong scales. The female lays in the sand, covers 

 the eggs with straw or leaves, and defends them with 

 courage.* 



The Pike-muzzled Cayman. Croc. Lucius. Cuv. Ann. 

 Mus. X. i. 8, et 15, and ii. 4. 



Thus named from the form of the muzzle ; is also 

 distinguished by four principal plates which it bears 

 on the nape. It inhabits the southern parts of 

 North America. It sinks into the mud, and falls 



* There are also Caymans of several kinds, which have this transverse 

 crest in front of the orbits, and which perhaps, like the crocodiles that 

 approximate to the common, form different species, but difficult to cha- 

 racterize well. 



Some have the muzzle shorter and more rounded, and the transverse 

 ridge concave in front, and prolonged on each side over the cheek. In 

 them I reckon thirteen teeth on each side above. The cranium is not widened 

 behind. The body is green, punctated, and spotted with black, with black 

 bands on the tail. 



Others have the head and teeth of the same character ; but their body 

 is black, with narrow and yellowish bands, as in the Jacare Noir of Spix, 

 pi. iv- 



Others, again, have the muzzle less wide, and the concave ridge less 

 prolonged, I find in them fifteen teeth, and their neck is better armed. 

 I would readily take them for the Cr. Fissipes of Spix, pi. iii. 



Finally, there are some with the muzzle still less wide, the cranium 

 widened a little behind, the transverse ridge convex in front, and not pro- 

 longed upon the cheek. The scales of the back have their ridges less pro- 

 jecting, and the bands of the tail are less marked. Such are the Cr, Punc- 

 tulatiis of Spix, Unfortunately, M. Spix has not insisted on the charac- 

 ters taken from the transverse crest. 



