26 



NOTE ON THE FOSSIL CROCODILE 



may probably be somewhere near the actual size : while an assumption 

 of 20 feet would be extending the dimensions to their utmost limit, our 

 estimate being guided by the proportions of the species now existing in our 

 rivers. 



The fossils from which the measurements were taken, consist of two 

 very perfect fragments ; first, the anterior portion of the skull of a large and 

 adult animal, the posterior part from the palatal sinus being wanting ; in 

 this the front of the lower jaw consisting of the left dental from the 1st to the 

 8th tooth, and of the right from the 1st to the 4th is fixed — the fragments of 

 the upper and lower jaw being united : a point proving that some at least 

 of these remains were inhumed before the disintegration of the muscles and 

 integument connecting them ; and secondly, the posterior part of the skull, 

 from the occipital to the front of the orbits, of an adult but of a smaller 

 animal than the preceding. 



The 4th tooth in each side of the lower jaw being received into a 

 groove into the upper — the form and size of the cranial foramina, together 

 with those of the protuberances and indentations of the muzzle, place our 

 fossil amongst the true Crocodiles, the species being allied to Cuvier's 

 Biporcatus, or the Crocodile, " a deux arrhtes' now existing in these rivers. 



The following measurements will facilitate the reference to Cuvier's 

 Ossemens fossiles ; and be perhaps of still further use in providing the 

 means for general reference on points relating to the existing Crocodile. 



Dimensions of Skull — upper jaw—' 

 number of teeth 38. 



Length from point of muzzle to posterior extremi- 

 ty or margin of occipital condyle, ... , 



Breadth on the temporal bones at the articulation 

 with lower jaw, 



Ditto between the most prominent points of the 

 alveoli of the 15th tooth, 



Ditto between ditto ditto lOtli ditto, 



Ditto between ditto ditto 4th ditto, 



Length of intermaxillaries on suture below,. . . . 

 Ditto of maxillaries ditto, , , , 



Existing Crocodile. 















rossil. 



11 Feet long. 



7 Feet long. 







Inches. 



Metres. 



Inches. 



Metres. 



Inches. 



Metres. 



17.1 



0.435 



11.3 



0.286 







11.2 



0.284 



6.7 



0.170 







8.1 



0.260 



5.0 



0.126 







6.7 



0.170 



4.2 



0.107 



9.2 



0.234 



4.7 



0.119 



2.7 



0.069 



6.0 



0.152 



3.2 



0.0805 



2.45 



0.062 



4.3 



0.109 



3.9 



0.099 



2.4 



0.060 1 



3.8 



0.096 



