FOSSIL REPTILES. 287 



their natural position, with some portions of ribs, and a great 

 number of scales still in connexion, and almost such as they 

 were when they formed the armour of the animal. 



At the same time, and at no great distance, was discovered 

 a considerable portion of a head, which was presented to M. 

 Cuvier ; he also received some incomplete vertebrae and a group 

 of scales^ which had been more anciently found in another 

 quarry near the same place. 



In 1822, M. Lamouroux procured two considerable blocks, 

 on which was the impression of a head, tail, part of the ribs, 

 and some long bones. The bones which formed these impres- 

 sions had been lost in getting out the blocks. Some portions of 

 the parietal, however, were preserved, the frontal and the muzzle 

 almost entire, some vertebrae, and some other fragments. The 

 portion of head above mentioned having been carefully dis- 

 engaged, presented almost every advantage that could be desired 

 for determining this part of the osteology. It was one half of 

 the left side, which had been detached longitudinally from the 

 other half, and only showed, at first, its vertical and longitudinal 

 section, but when it had been disengaged from its stony cover- 

 ing, all the parts were found perfectly preserved, from the occi- 

 put to beyond the anterior extremity of the lachrymals. This 

 half being thus complete, it was easy to represent the other half. 



On the first view, the Baron pronounced this specimen to 

 have appertained to a gavial equally different from the living 

 species and the fossils discovered before. These are its special 

 characters : — On the upper faces the sides gradually approach 

 each other to form the muzzle. The anterior frontal advances 

 less upon the cheek, the lachrymal advances more, and is 

 broader at its base. The jugal, on the contrary, is more nar- 

 row. The edges of the orbits are not raised ; the orbits ap- 

 proach each other more, and are of a circular figure. The prin- 

 cipal frontal between them is not concave. The foramen of 

 the crotaphite is much larger in proportion, and nearly squared, 

 not round. The posterior frontal, which separates this foramen 



