294 
FOSSIL CROCODILES 
of enamel : the crowm of the tooth is solid, but the 
shank is more or less hollow. All the specimens 
appear as if they had been broken off close to the 
jaw ; but they may have been se})arated by necrosis, 
occasioned by the pressure of the supplementary 
teeth. Meagre as are these details, they are not 
without value, if they shall be found to establish 
tlie identity of the animals to which these teeth 
belonged, since another fact will thus be added to 
our knowledge of the geological distribution of the 
ancient inhabitants of the globe. 
Crocodile. — The teeth of the reptiles of this 
family are abundantly distributed throughout the 
strata of the Wealden ; they present considerable 
variety of form, and are referable to two, if not 
more, distinct species. The first are very obtuse, 
much more so than the teeth of the crocodile 
of the Nile, and resemble those of the second 
species of the fossil crocodile of the Jura lime- 
stone ; the second are more slender, possess a 
gentle curvature, and bear a close resemblance to 
the teeth of the fossil Gavial of Caen.* 
Another species of this genus is indicated by the 
portion of a lower jaw imbedded in grit, having 
seven teeth in place, and two detached. This spe- 
cimen is figured in the “ Fossils of Tilgate Forest,” 
and the teeth approximate so closely to those of 
the Ci'ocodilus prisciis^ being alternately long and 
"■ The first species is the Crocodilus MantcUl of Gray; the second is 
the Gaxnalh Lamourouxu of the same author. — Synopsis KcpUhim, 
pp. 57. Gl. With regard to their relation to the recent species, it may 
be observed, that the obtuse conical teeth resemble those of the Cay- 
man or alligator, which inhabits Cayenne and North America: the 
more slender and recurved species, those of the Gavial, an inhabitant 
pf the (ianges only. 
