44 



VERTEBRATA. 



No. 64. [1287] Compsognathus longipes, Wagner. 



Skeleton, on slab (cast). 

 Tliis species is the most bird- 

 like of the discovered Dino- 

 saurs, and indeed was once 

 thought to be a bird. It has 

 a length of about two feet, a 

 small head upon a slender 

 neck, and toothed jaws. The 

 fore limbs are small, but the 

 hind limbs are long, and strik- 

 ingly like the legs of birds in 

 their structure. Huxley says 

 "it is impossible to look at 

 the conformation of this 

 strange reptile and to doubt 

 that it hopped or walked in 

 an erect or semi-erect posi- 

 tion, after the manner of a 

 bird, to which its long neck, 

 slight head and small anterior 

 limbs must have given it an extraordinaiy resemblance." 



This most interesting and very perfect specimen is unique, and the species 

 is the only representative of the Sub-order Compsognatha. It was found in 

 the lithographic limestone of Bavaria, and is in the museum of the University 

 of Munich. Size, 12 x 14 inches. 



ORDER PTEROSAURIA (Ornithosauria). 



The extraordinaiy characteristic of this order is tlie power of 

 flight, and no other reptiles, extinct or modern, possessed this 

 ability. They were veritable dragons — the bats among reptiles. 

 The wing was an expanse of skin (patagium) supported by the 

 hind limbs and the gi-eatly elongated outer finger. The remain- 

 ing three digits of each manns were free, provided with claM's, 

 and adapted for grasping. 



These reptiles possessed many affinities with birds, for example, 

 the shape of the skull, the form of the brain, the structure of 

 the shoulder girdle, the keeled sternum, and in some species the 

 probably horny beak. The pneumatic bones give force to the 

 suggestion that the animals were warm-blooded. On the other 

 hand, the pelvis, hind lin^bs and vertebrae are distinctly reptilian, 

 as is the general ensemble of the characters. No remains have 

 been found of anj' derma-skeleton. 



