REPTILIA. 345 



from both Guadeloupe and Martinique. There is no reason whatever for sup- 

 posing that the species occurs on either of these islands. This tortoise was re- 

 ported by Maynard as occurring on Grand Cayman Island, probably by importa- 

 tion from Cuba. It has not been found by more recent collectors. It is common 

 in most fresh water ponds all over Cuba and Jamaica. It frequently finds its 

 way into the Cuban markets. 



Crocodilus rhombifer Cuvier. 

 Cuvier, Ann. Mus. hist, nat., 1807, 10, p. 51. Boulenger, Cat. ehelonians Brit, mus., 1889, p. 237. 



This species is confined to Cuba, whence the Museum has several specimens. 

 It is locally known as "Cocodrilo." It is very closely related to Crocodilus 

 moreletii, A. Dumeril of Guatemala and Honduras, — a rare species from which 

 the Cuban form has doubtless been derived. Quoting from the field notes of 

 Mr. C. J. Maynard, Garman (Bull. Essex inst., 1888, 20, p. 108) records the 

 following in writing of the herpetology of Little Cayman Island: — "Two 

 species of crocodile have been taken on this island, and one on Cayman Brae. 

 I saw but a portion of one specimen. The natives assured me the species were 

 similar to those found in Cuba." The species referred to are doubtless this and 

 the succeeding. Whether they are resident in the Cayman group, or whether 

 they only reach the islands occasionally by swimming would be well worth as- 

 certaining definitely. As yet no answer to this question can be given. 



This crocodile is apparently entirely confined to the submerged regions of 

 the Cienaga de Zapata and the Cienaga of the Isla de Pinos. I found it abundant 

 in 1913 about the Laguna de Punta Gorda not far from where the Rio Hanabana 

 enters the great swamp. The three which I killed were from five to seven feet 

 long, but it grows much larger. In the Museum of the Institute of Secondary 

 Education in Havana there is an enormously massive skull taken by Gundlach 

 from a specimen nearly seventeen feet long. This species is very aquatic living 

 in the floating vegetation and half floating reed beds of the "tembladera" in the 

 Cienaga. In the region which I visited the swamp had a hard firm substratum 

 upon which was overlaid from two to five feet of very soft liquid mud and on the 

 surface of this half afloat were the great reed beds with more open areas of stagnant 

 water and lily pads of several sorts. This region supported an enormous popula- 

 tion of water fowl and waders as well as the crocodiles, which hide among the 

 roots of the cat tails when disturbed, or sun themselves upon the floating beds 

 of matted lily pads and water plants. 



