EMYDOSAURES. 355 



(173.) In the meantime we shall do our best to 

 restore a just and impartial nomenclature ; and in the 

 followmg synopsis of the order we shall only notice 

 those divisions which appear to us to claim a permanent 

 consideration. There are^ doubtless^ many others among 

 such as we have not adopted^ which may eventually prove 

 to be of the same character. But we think it more 

 preferable to err on the safe side than on the contrary. 

 Had we possessed the same facilities for determining 

 the types of form among the reptiles as among the fish^ 

 the following arrangement would have been much more 

 complete. We trust, however, that two eminent erpe- 

 tologists of this country, both of whom are not only 

 well acquainted with our theory of natural classification, 

 but are familiar with all the details of this branch, will 

 take up the subject; improving and completing what 

 we must consider, in the minor divisions, as but a rude 

 sketch of the circular series of the class before us. 



Order I. EMYDOSAURES, BlainviUe. Crocodiles, 



Body lizard-shaped, loricated with square bony plates 

 or shields, which are generally carinated, and form two 

 elevated crests on the tail ; sides of the body with small 

 scales ; feet palmated ; head very large and depressed ; 

 mouth enormous. 



Crocodilus. Crocodile. Anterior toes four, posterior 

 five, but only three claws upon each foot; tail com- 

 pressed, carinated, and serrated ; muzzle oblong, de- 

 pressed ; inferior canines received into a notch at the 

 edge of the upper. 



C. vulgaris. Cuv. Ann. Mus. x. pi. 1. fig. 5. 



Champsa Wagler. Alligator. Muzzle elongated ; teeth 

 unequal, the lower canines received into correspond- 

 ing pits in the upper jaw ; feet pectinated. 

 C. palpebrosus. Spix,pl. 1. Mississipensis. Catesby,ii,pl. 63. 



A A 



Q 



