FLYING DRAGONS. 128 
seen in the figure is by Professor Owen. It is probable that this 
Pterodactyl could walk on the ground with its wings folded, and 
perhaps it was also capable of perching on trees, by clinging on 
to their branches with its feet and toes. When the flying mem- 
brane was stretched out it must, on account of the long tail to 
which it was also attached, have presented a triangular shape, 
somewhat like a boy’s kite. 
Another genus, also from the lithographic slate of Bavaria, 
namely, Scaphognathus crassirostris (so called on account of 
its large beak and jaws), had a very short tail, and its skeleton 
A et eae SS. SYR 
Sh ieee 4 Nail) 
SR 4 
cla 
\ 
\ 
SSS 
Fic. 33.—Skeleton of Scaphognathus crassirostris. 4 natural size. 
looks somewhat clumsy for a creature adapted to fly through 
the air (Fig. 33). | 
Pterodactylus spectabilis, from the same strata, also possessed 
a very short tail, but has a more elegant and bird-like skull. 
This pretty little flying dragon was only about as large as a 
sparrow (see Fig. 34). Its neck is comparatively short, with but 
few joints. The long slender beak was probably sheathed in 
