197 



GANGETIC CROCODILE. 



Lacerta Gangetica. L. maxillis elmgatis teretibus siibcylindricis, 

 Cauda superne cristis binis in unam confluentibus horrida, Lin. 

 St/st. Nat. Grnel. p. 1057. Gronov. Gazoph. 2. p. 11. 



Lizard with elongated subcylindric jaws, and tail furnished 

 above with two crests coalescing into one towards the ex- 

 tremity. 



JuN. ? Crocodilus ventre marsupio donatus, faitcibus merganseris 



rostrum cemnlantibiis. Edw. Act. Angl. 49- p- 3^9. t. 19. 

 Gangetic, or Indian Crocodile. 



The Gaiigetic Crocodile is so strikingly distin- 

 guished both from the Nilotic and the Alligator 

 by the peculiar form of the mouth, that it is 

 hardly possible, even on a cursory view, to con- 

 found it with either of the former ; the jaws being 

 remarkably long, narrow, and perfectly strait, and 

 the upper mandible terminated above by an ele- 

 vated tubercle. In the general form and colour 

 of the body and limbs it resembles the common 

 Crocodile, but the number of transverse zones or 

 bands formed by the rows of scales, on the back, 

 is greater than in that species. In a very young 

 state the length and narrowness of the snout are 

 still more conspicuous than in the full-grown ani- 

 mal. The teeth are nearly double the number of 

 those of the common Crocodile, and are of equal 

 size throughout the whole length of the jaws. 

 This species is a native of India, and is princi- 

 pally seen in the Ganges, where it arrives at a size 

 at least equal to the Nilotic Crocodile, and is of 

 similar manners. It seems to have been first no- 



