286 
On the Crocodilia. 
[Sept. 
of which have each six crested scales, whilst the remainder, which are situated 
between the thighs, have but four in each ; besides these, there is on each side a 
longitudinal row of seven or eight crested scales. The lateral ridges of the tail 
do not become distinct till the sixth row, and then form two crests, which unite on 
the seventeenth or eighteeenth row, so as to form a single ridge, which consisting of 
eighteen rows, is continued to the end of the tail. In consequence of the regularity 
of the scales, ridges, &c. M. Cuvier says, that the back of the Nilotic Croco- 
dile appears as if paved with quadrangular stones. The scales of the neck and 
back are wider than long, and those of the belly have a pore which is more or less 
distinct. Colour of the back is a greenish bronze, speckled with brown, whilst 
that of the belly is of a greenish yellow. Length is said sometimes to exceed 
30 feet ; habitat — the Nile, Senegal ; and according to Hardwicke, the Ganges. 
Cuvier remarks “ that the different crocodiles exhibit some variations of details 
in the muzzle, and in the lateral scales of the neck. But as to this point, and still 
more as to the muzzle, the varieties must be much more numerous: andW. 
GeofFroy acknowledges that nothing is more fugitive than the forms of crocodda. 
So much is this the case, that I cannot venture to elevate to a specific rank some 
crocodiles sent from Bengal, by Duvaucel, although their head is more convex than 
the rest of this genus.” 
The C. suchus , C. marginatus , C. lacunosus , and C. complanatus, of Geoflroy 
are regarded by Cuvier as varieties of the Nilotic crocodile. 
2. C. biporatus, Cuv. porosus, Schneider. The head differs from that of the 
Nilotic Crocodile only by two projecting crests or ridges, which extend from the 
anterior edge of the orbit nearly parallel along the snout, and are then gradually lost. 
Scales of the back oval, their long axis being from before backwards. Ihef 1 '^ 
row has four, the following have six, then there are three rows with six, and three 
with four scales — the entire number of rows being 17. In young individuals, there 
are pores to all the dorsal scales. The ventral pores are also very obvious in tin* 
species, and hence Schneider has given it the trivial name of porosus. Habitat— nil t > e 
rivers which flow towards the Indian ocean. Cuvier received from Calcutta 
skeleton 17 feet in length. 
3. C. acutus, Cuv. Haytian Crocodile. The snout is longer than that of any ^ 
Crocodiles, and prominent at its base. Breadth of the head at the articulation ^ 
the jaws is comprized twice and a quarter in the length : length of the cra ^ 
is little more than a fifth of the total length of the head. On the middle 
muzzle, a little in front of the orbits, is a rounded convexity more or less sens: ^ 
scales on the back and neck very similar to those of the C. vulgaris, but o ^ 
back they form four longitudinal ridges, of which the middle two are n0 . ® 
raised, whilst the outer are very prominent, and some of them scattered very 
larly : and there are not more than 15 or 16 transverse rows to the root o 1 
In the tail are 17 or 18 rows before the union of the two crests, after which ^ 
are 17. The middle ridges terminate at the 18th or 19th row. The headis ^ 
length of the body as 1 to 7 T 4 5 . Attain the length of 16 feet and more. 
— St. Domingo. . e 
4. C. rhombifer. Forehead very much arched laterally, from the anterior ^ 
of each orbit a soft straight crest passes, which quickly meets its fellow, a 
the inner edge of the two orbit forms a kind of lozenge incomplete ^ 
The extremities are covered with very strong crested scales ; country u 
Cuvier lias only seen two specimens of this animal. ^er, 
behind the 
5. 
C. galeatus , Cuv. Siamese Crocodile. Two bony 7 crests, one 
on the middle of the skull : in other respects resembling the Nilotic 
Cr oco 
0 > 
