Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 27.djvu/130

manner of union of these with the nasal bones; but the teeth differ: those of Melitosaurus champsoides (making allowance for the much larger size of the individual) are stouter, much less sharply pointed, and less tapering; their enamel marking has also a different character, being much more finely wrinkled than in this Gozo crocodile.

In its elongated form and its regularly tapering outline (not suddenly contracted in front of the orbits as in the Indian gavial), in the commencement of the nasal bones opposite the front borders of the orbits, in the slenderness of these bones, and in their insensible junction with the ascending processes of the præmaxillæ the skull of the Gozo crocodile resembles that of the existing Rhynchosuchus Schlegelii; but it differs from it in several particulars, amongst which are the crenation of the alveolar border of the distal halves of the snout, the more oblong shape of the syncipital area, the larger size and different shape of the supratemporal fossæ, the raised margin of the orbit, and the more hollow interorbital space. I propose for this Gozo crocodile the specific name of gaudensis.

 

Dimensions.

in.

1. From the posterior border of the syncipital area to the anterior ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   3⋅2

1. From ditto to the anterior border of the parietal bone ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   2⋅1

1. From ditto to the anterior limit of the frontal bone ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   6⋅7

1. From ditto to the posterior limit of the prefrontal bone ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   4⋅0

1. From ditto to the anterior limit of the prefrontal bone ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   6⋅1

1. From ditto to the anterior limit of the lachrymal bone ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   7⋅1

1. From ditto to the anterior limit of the nasal bones ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   14⋅6

1. From ditto to the posterior limit of ditto ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   13⋅5

1. From ditto to the last maxillary tooth ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   4⋅6

1. Breadth of syncipital area, its posterior border ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   5⋅4

1. Ditto, its anterior border ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   5⋅0

1. Supratemporal foramina, axial diameter ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1⋅7

1. Ditto, transverse diameter ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1⋅8

1. Inter foraminal parietal septum, minimum width under ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   0⋅2

1. Orbits, distance between their inner borders ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1⋅0

1. Axial diameter of ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   2⋅3

1. Transverse diameter of ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1⋅5

1. Breadth of skull at hindermost tooth ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   5⋅2

1. Ditto at 10th tooth from behind ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   2⋅6

1. Ditto in front of 14th tooth ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1⋅6

1. Length of 6th maxillary tooth ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1⋅6

1. Antero-posterior diameter of 10th maxillary tooth at the junction of the crown and fang ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   0⋅4

 

Discussion.

Dr. Duncan suggested that the Ichthyosaurian fossil might be derivative from some secondary rock. He mentioned that Dr. Leith Adams had once sent him an Aspidiscus cristatus from the Hippurite Limestone, which was stated to have come from Malta. To account for this, he suggested that the Miocene of Malta might have been supported on beds of Cretaceous age, and fossils from that source might have become imbedded in the coral reefs of the later date.