30 



NOTE ON THE FOSSIL CROCODILE 



extremity, shewing an extreme contraction and narrowness of the symphisis ; 

 that of the fossil being actually less than that of the existing 11 feet Cro- 

 codile. The form of the suture is similar in each, and the internal process 

 equally well defined. 



Further than from an inspection of the plates and description of the 

 varieties of the Cayman and Crocodile, in the 5th volume of the Ossemens 

 Fossiles, I am unacquainted with the form of any other head than that of 

 the Crocodile which inhabits the Ganges and Jumna rivers in this part of 

 India, and presume that I am correct in placing our existing animal 

 amongst the Crocodiles " a deux arretes," The peculiarities of the skulls in 

 my possession resemble those of this species, although there is a point 

 relating to the ridges, which may as well be noted, more especially as the 

 same feature is most prominently marked in the fossil, thereby assimi- 

 lating our existing and fossil animal still closer to each other. 



The ridges (in C. Biporcatus) are described as " proceeding from the 

 " anterior angle of the orbit and descending in almost a parallel line along 

 " the muzzle, and gradually disappearing." In both the fossil and existing 

 specimens now under description the above note applies distinctly, with 

 this exception, that the ridges partially disappear at a point half way on 

 the nasal bones, from whence they strike off in an oblique direction right 

 and left towards the alveoli ol the 10th tooth, this oblique ridge shewing 

 itself as prominently as that at the anterior angle of the orbit. 



There is a general resemblance between the fossil and the head of the 

 existing Crocodile which is striking. The rugosities and position of inequa- 

 lities on the upper surface closely correspond ; the cranial foramina, the 

 number of teeth, the foramina in the upper intermaxillary bones for receiv- 

 ing the two front teeth of the lower jaw, the grooves for the 4th teeth of 

 the lower jaw, and the general form of the nasal aperture, are features 

 similar in both. We may therefore fairly conclude from analogy that the 

 Crocodile now found fossil in the upper strata of the Siv^liks, is of a spe- 

 cies closely allied to the present one, with the simple difference of possessing 



