PTEROSAURIA 245 



possession of wings ; the bones are light, hollow, most of them 

 permeated by air-cells, with thin compact outer walls. The 

 scapula and coracoid are long and narrow, but strong. The 

 vertebras of the neck are few, but large and strong, for the 

 support of a large head with long jaws, armed with sharp- 



Fig. 74. 

 Fossil skeleton of Pterodartylus crassirostris : A, Sketch of living Pterodactyle. 



pointed teeth. The skull was lightened by large vacuities, of 

 which one (o, fig. 7-t) is interposed between the nostril n and 

 the orbit /. The vertebras of the back are small, and grow 

 less to the tail. Those of the sacrum are small, from three to 

 five in number : but the weak pelvis and hind limbs bespeak 

 a creature unable to stand and walk like a bird. The body 

 must have been dragged along the ground like that of a bat. 

 The Pteroscwria may have been good swimmers as well as 



