§34. SWANAGE FOSSIL CROCODILE 417 



of the lower jaw, with two teeth in place, is preserved ; and 

 many detached teeth and dermal bones are distributed 

 over the stone. There are numerous ribs and biconcave 

 vertebrae, the latter having an irregular medullary cavity in 

 the centre of the body ; the chevron bones are of the same 

 form as in the Gavial. The bones of the pelvic arch, and 

 several of those belonging to the extremities, remain. 



The dermal scutes are flat ; their width, which is equal 

 throughout, is about one-third of the length. They are of 

 various sizes, from three to six inches long. The inner 

 surface is smooth, and the external covered with irregular 

 deep pits or hollows ; some round, others angular. These 

 differ from all known recent and fossil dermal bones, in 

 having a lateral projection which fits into a corresponding 

 depression on the under surface of the opposite angle of 

 the adjoining scute.* Numerous hexagonal and pentagonal 

 scutes, articulated together by marginal sutures, also 

 entered into the composition of the osseous dermal cuirass ; 

 this reptile must, therefore, have possessed a flexible and 

 impenetrable coat of mail, capable of affording protection 

 against the attack of any assailant.f 



Macrorhyncus MyerL The cranium of another reptile 

 of the Gavial type, has been found in the wealden of Ger- 

 many, and is figured in Dr. Drinker's beautiful work ; 

 it is characterized, as the name implies, by its extremelv 

 elongated snout. J 



Poecilopleuron. Vertebrae and other bones of a croco- 

 dilian reptile, related to the Goniopholis, are occasionally 

 found in the wealden deposits of Tilgate Forest and the 

 Isle of Wight, associated with the remains of that 



* Medals of Creation, vol. ii. p. 702. 



f Teeth of the Swanage Crocodile or Goniopholis have been found 

 in the wealden of Germany, by Dr. Dunker ; see Mon. Nord Weald 

 PL XX. fig. C. 



X Mon. Nord. Weald. Tab. XX. 



E E 



