Property of the Museum 



ICHTHYOSAURUS — RESTORATION OF A MARINE REPTILE 



This catch-word of popular zoology, Ichthyosaurus (the first part signifying "fish," the second 

 "lizard"), is one of nature's deceptions. Just as you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but 

 as Professor Gadow says, you can make a purse, so natiu-e could not make a real fish out of a crawling 

 reptile but she could make a fair imitation. Ichthyosaurus is a reptile as much as is a crocodile or a 

 lizard but it is covered over with a flshlike (or rather porpoise-like) skin. The fore feet have turned into 

 paddles; the skin on the back forms a dorsal fin. The fin on the tail is fishlike in form. All these 

 features are exquisitely preserved in some of the wonderful fossils foimd at Solenhofen in Germany with 

 the contour of body, back-fin and paddles outlined in the rock. The Ichthyosaurs are viviparous, and 

 Knight's painting represents the newly born young swimming along with the mother in pursiiit of a 

 school of fish. The Museum specimen on which this restoration was based contains the remains of a 

 brood of unborn young 



87 



