SAURIANS. 483 



Prof. Owen enumerates no less than sixteen species of this extinct 

 and most anomalous animal. 



Pterodactylus, (Gr. pteron, wing ; daktutos, a finger or toe,) The 

 PTERODACTYLE, (see Chart,) The researches of geology have 

 brought to light this Flying ( fossil ) Lizard, which received its name 

 from Cuvier. The construction of the skeleton fully proves that it 

 was capable of flying, or of skimming from one spot to another. 

 The wings were, probably, much like those found in the Bat. 

 The neck was very long and bird-like ; the head large ; the jaws 

 armed with pointed teeth ; and the tail very short. Six or seven 

 species of this genus have been distinguished; one is almost the 

 size of a Thrush ; one of a Common Bat ; arid another consider 

 ably larger than the first. To these extinct reptiles, the little 

 Dragons, (Draco,) have but a distant resemblance. The food of 

 the smaller species consisted of insects, the larger preying upon 

 the fishes, or the marsupials of their day. These very singular 

 animals have only, within a comparatively short period, been 

 admitted to a place among the Repiiles. 



Iguanodon, (Iguana, and odous, a tooth.) This name has 

 been given to the fossil remains of an extinct animal related to 

 the Iguana; but which attained a far more enormous bulk. 

 The bones were discovered by Dr. Mantell in the strata of 

 Tilgate forest, Eng. The teeth are so much like those of the 

 Iguana, as to show beyond question, its relation to this gigantic 

 Saurian, which could not have been less than seventy feet in 

 length. The teeth of the Iguanodon disclose some peculiar me 

 chanical contrivances, fitting them for cropping tough vegetable 

 food, such as that furnished by the plants found imbedded with it. 



SAURIANS. 



What is the SECOND ORDER OF REPTILES ? Give the general characteris 

 tics of this order. What did Aristotle observe respecting the SAURIANS? 

 In what respects do they come nearer the Mammalia than other reptiles ? 

 In what climates are they most numerous ? At what season do they moult 

 their skin? Are medicinal properties justly ascribed to them? Into how 

 many families are they divided? What is the First Family? How many 

 genera does this family include ? How do they compare in size with the 

 rest of the LIZARDS? Where are they called ALLIGATORS? Where CAI 

 MANS? Where GAVIALS? How are these severally distinguished? In 

 what particulars do they differ from other reptiles? What evinces their 

 power of swimming? How are the jaws armed? Where are Crocodiles 

 most abundant ? What is peculiar in their mode of feeding? How are 

 they related to the Tortoises? How did the ancient Egyptians regard 

 them ? Is any species found in Europe or Australia ? What characters of 

 the ALLIGATOR are given ? What is said of its pursuit of fishes ? How is 

 it captured? What incident is related by Audubon ? Mention the princi 

 pal species. How does the gen. Crocodilus differ from the gen. Alligat&r ? 



