184 FOSSIL REPTILES. 



analogous individuals in the Paris collections ; and as this 

 cranium and these individuals differed in some points from the 

 common crocodile, he concluded them to belong to one of the 

 species mentioned by the fishermen. To this species, M. 

 Geoffroy is disposed to refer the crocodiles which were held in 

 such peculiar veneration by the ancient Egyptians, and to 

 apply to it the name of suchus, mentioned by Strabo and 

 Photius. His numerous observations on the habits of the 

 crocodile perfectly explain everything, doubtful or obscure, on 

 this subject in the writings of the ancients, and form very 

 valuable additions to the natural history of this reptile. He 

 has also given a comparative description of the bones com- 

 posing the head of this animal, embracing new and interesting 

 views on the osteology of reptiles. But one of the most im- 

 portant facts relative to specific classification, ascertained by 

 M. Geoffroy, is the establishment of the astonishing resem- 

 blance of the crocodile of St. Domingo with that of the Nile ; 

 and, consequently, of the great differences which distinguish 

 the former from the common cayman of Cayenne. 



The Baron, in his grand work on *' Fossil Osteology," has 

 finally divided the genus Crocodile, the characters of which 

 we have already laid before our readers, into three sub-genera. 

 This division was not made until he had personally inspected 

 every new specimen that it was possible to procure ; — taken a 

 second review of all that he had already seen, and again pe- 

 rused all the most ancient writers on the subject — it was impos- 

 sible, in fact, by any means, to make closer approaches to the 

 truth, or arrive at an enumeration more complete and distinct. 

 The genus itself became so clearly circumscribed and deter- 

 mined, that it could not be confounded with any other of the 

 reptilia ; and M. Cuvier's first division of it (already men- 

 tioned) in a general way, was fully confirmed by his subse- 

 quent observations. The general form, thus determined, be- 

 came modified in its details into three particular forms, which: 

 we shall now lay before the reader. 



