SIWALIK CROCODILIA, LACERTILIA, AND OPHIDIA. 27—235 
and Gharialis (including Holops) in the relations of the upper and lower dental series, 
and in the presence of a pit in the cranium for the reception of the fourth 
mandibular tooth. It agrees with Tomistoma in the non-expansion of the premaxillse, 
in the relation of the latter to tlie splenials, in the enlargement of the hjurth (and 
perhaps of the ninth) mandibular tooth, but apparently differs in the relation of the 
premaxillae to the nasals ; the profile of the cranium comes nearer to this genus than 
to Gharialis. It agrees with the latter genus in the depressed cranial rostrum, in the 
form of the extremity of the mandibular symphysis, and in the apparent non- 
articulation of the premaxillse with the nasals, but differs in the straight profile, and 
in those characters in which it resembles Tomistoma : the non-expansion of the 
premaxillse is a character in which it differs from G. gangeticus and G. pachyrhynchus, 
but this feature is almost absent in G. curvirostris. The American cretaceous genus 
Thoracosaurus is unlike the present form ; and the writer cannot identify the latter 
with Thecachampsa from the miocene of the same country, in which the upper and 
lower dental series appear to have interlocked.^ 
The alligatoroid characters of the dentition of the present form appear to the 
writer to afford good grounds for its generic distinction, and the new generic name 
Bhamphosuchus is accordingly proposed for it. Apart from the peculiar relations of 
the upper and lower dental series, this genus appears to be intermediate in the 
characters of the skull between Tomistoma and Gharialis, and it is difficult to say with 
which its affinity is the nearest. 
It is hard to believe that the alligatoroid features of the dentition of Bhampho- 
suchus do not indicate a real genetic affinity with the alligatoroid group; although it 
would at present be premature to attempt to determine the nature of this suggested 
relationship. It is to be regretted that we have at present no means of knowing the 
nature of the dermal armour on the ventral aspect of Bhamphosuchus. 
Distribution. — Bhamphosuchus crassidens is known definitely from the typical 
Siwalik Hills, while teeth apparently indicate its western extension to the Punjab. 
Order. LACERTILIA. 
Family. VABANID^. 
Genus. VARANUS, Merrem.^ 
Distribution . — This genus (in which Hydrosaurus, Monitor, and Psammosaurus are 
included) is found at the present day in the tropical parts of Africa, Asia, and 
Australia ; and includes the largest existing lizards. Six species are recorded by 
Mr. Theobald^ from India ; of which the largest ( F. salvator) attains according to 
the same authority a length of nearly seven feet ; while the Australian V. giganteus, 
according to Gray, is six-and-a-half feet in length. From the lower pliocene^ of 
Pikermi M. Gaudry® has described some remains of a lizard which is provisionally 
1 Vide mprd. page 211. 2 “ Syst. Amphib.” p. 58 (1820). » “ Reptiles of British India,” pp. 38, 39 (1876). 
4 The writer now adopts this age for the Pikermi and Leberon beds. 
5 “ Animaux Fossiles et Geologie de I’Attique,” pp. 318-319. 
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