346 BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY. 



Crocodilus americanus Laueentit 

 Laurbnti, Syn. rept., 1768, p. 54. Boulenger, Cat. ehelonians, Brit, mus., 1889, p. 281. 



This is the most common crocodilian of the West Indian region. It was 

 formerly abundant in Jamaica, though now it is largely restricted to the swampy 

 deltas about the mouths of the Milk River and Black River. It occurs in a few 

 other favorable localities, but is rare everywhere. It is generally called the 

 "alligator," but the name of "crocodile" is also quite widespread. In Cuba it 

 is more common, and occurs widely distributed in suitable localities. It is 

 generally known to the natives as Caiman, in contradistinction to "Cocodrilo," 

 a name used for the other Cuban crocodile (C. rhombifer Cuvier). In Haiti it 

 is said to be common, but of its occurrence in either Haiti or San Domingo 

 practically nothing is known. Outside of the Greater Antillean region it ranges 

 through Mexico, Central America to the Pacific coast region of Ecuador. In 

 Florida, whence it was first made known by Jeffries Wyman (Amer. journ. sci. 

 arts., 1870, 49, p. 105-106), it is now very rare. Its persecution by local hunters 

 has practically exterminated it about Biscayne Bay, and left but few individuals 

 about Cape Sable and among the northern Keys. 



There are specimens in the Museum from Florida, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, 

 Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. 



