118 BRITISH FOSSIL REPTILES. 



the Wealden period — the Iguanodon — by the suppression of the first, and by a 

 similar atrophy of the fifth digit. The foot-prints of Scelidosaurus would termi- 

 nate forward by the marks of four claws, the innermost falling short of the base 

 of the second, this and the fourth reaching the same line, and the intermediate 

 third claw extending farthest. The hind foot-prints of Iguanodon are tri- 

 dactyle.^ 



The total length of the foot of Scelidosaurus is 1 foot 1 inch 6 lines ; the 

 length of the leg (" cnemion ") is 1 foot ; the length of the thigh is 1 foot 4 inches ; 

 consequently the total length of the hind limb is 3 feet 5 inches ; and, allowing for 

 the fibro-cartilaginous matter of the joints and the terminal claws, the limb may 

 have been 3 feet 8 inches long in the recent animal. 



The femur equals the length of about seven co-articulated dorsal vertebrce, and, 

 with the leg, manifests longer proportions to the body than in the CrocodiUa; but 

 the foot presents shorter and broader proportions, although it has the same number 

 of toes. Scelidosaurus, however, difi'ers from Teleosaurus and modern CrocodiUa, 

 in retaining the ungual phalanx of the fourth toe, as in modern hzards (PI. 58, 

 fig. 3, to) ; although it differs from these and resembles the Crocodiles in the 

 non-development of the fifth toe. The interesting evidence of this intermediate 

 relationship aiforded by the bones of the hind foot, as by some other parts of the 

 skeleton, is illustrated by the outline figures of the skeleton of the hind foot 

 (PI. 58) in Varanus, fig. 3, in Grocodilus, fig. 4, and as similarly restored in Scelido- 

 saurus, fig. 2. 



In the same plate is figured, of half the natural size, the bones of the right 

 hind foot of the skeleton of the Scelidosaur which has yielded the subjects of the 

 present Monograph ; showing the effects of pressure in fracturing and partially 

 dislocating the metatarsal segment, after all the joints of the toes had been 

 cemented by the surrounding hardened matrix in their respective varied numbers 

 and co-adjustment in each toe. 



Bermo-slceleton. 



The bones belonging to this system were extensively developed in Scelido- 

 saurus, and are for the most part of a massive character. They have been much 

 displaced in the present specimen, partly during the decomposition of the carcass, 

 and partly by subsequent pressure due to movements of the imbedding stratum ; 

 but retain their most intelligible natural relations to the endo-skeleton in the 

 caudal region : in which part, therefore, I shall begin their description, as they 

 were found, on exposing the vertebral characters on the left side, from the end of 

 the tail forwards ; and were either removed, or left in situ, as the case required. 



' Atife, Vol. i, p. 374, Pis. 43, 44 {Dinosauria). 



