193 GANGETIC CROCODILE. 



ticed as a distinct species by Edwards, who, in the 

 Philosophical Transactions for the year 1759, gave 

 an accurate description, accompanied by a good 

 figure, of a young specimen preserved in spirits, 

 and which was received by Dr. Mead from Ben^ 

 gal. This specimen had a remarkable aperture on 

 the skin of the abdomen, which was at that time 

 considered as forming a kind of specific character, 

 but which was probably nothing more than the pas- 

 sage by which the umbilical vessels of the animal 

 were attached during its confinement in the egg. 

 It was however supposed by Edwards to have been 

 the opening of a ventral pouch destined for the 

 reception of the young, as in the Opossum. The 

 general structure of the feet is similar to that of 

 the common Crocodile, except that the third and 

 fourth toes only, and this on the fore as well as 

 hind feet, are connected together by a web. The 

 eyes," says Edwards, are very prominent, and 

 seem to be so constructed that they may be carried 

 above the water, while the rest of the animal is 

 wholly under water, in order to watch its prey on 

 the surface, or on the banks and shores of rivers." 



In the British Museum is a specimen of this 

 animal measuring about eighteen feet. In the Le- 

 verian Museum is an elegant and well-preserved 

 specimen of much smaller size, viz. about three 

 feet in length. 



