172 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



brown spots. Irides yellow. This species seems quiet, 

 and, although, it hisses frequently, makes no attempt to 

 bite. It feeds well, taking fish and meat. It should be 

 mentioned that the gular and ventral shields are bony in 

 the adult (Boulenger). 



The Egyptian crocodile, C. niloticus (PI. I., 

 fig. 3), is the best and longest known species. It 

 was the sacred crocodile of the ancient Egyptians, 

 and ranges practically over the whole of Africa. 

 Its distribution is given as extending from the Xile 

 and the Senegal to the Cape, and is also found in 

 Madagascar. Its snout is of medium length, less than 

 twice its basal width, upper surface rough. It has four 

 shields in a transverse line behind its head, and two pairs 

 of larger ones arranged in a square with a smaller one on 

 each side. This last arrangement is common in many 

 crocodilians. The dorsal series comprises about seventeen 

 transverse rows, the widest containing eight longitudinal 

 series. The two outermost ones are irregular. In 

 disposition it is savage, and rather intractable. Its colour 

 is usually yellowish-olive, and has the scales and shields 

 of the upper surface mottled with small dark stripes. 

 The junctions between the scutes are also dark. Four or 

 five broad, dark bands cross the back somewhat irregu- 

 larly; they are prolonged down and blend near the 

 femurs, the anterior lines running backwards while the 

 posterior slope obliquely forward. The tail has four 

 regular, transverse bars superiorly, while laterally the 

 bars run obliquely backwards and downwards. There 

 are two paired ridges in the upper jaw of the young, the 

 first pair in particular being very noticeable. They arise 

 immediately anterior to the notch for the fourth 

 mandibular tooth, and run obliquely backwards and 

 inwards for a short distance. The posterior enlargements 



