BRITISH REPTILES 



jaws with teeth, and bat-like wings. Some forms of 

 these extinct flying reptiles, however, were toothless in 

 the same way as our present-day birds. The largest 

 of the Pterodactyls, as these flying reptiles are called, had 

 a wing-stretch of at least twenty feet, so that its presence 

 in the air in those far-off" times may be compared for 

 breadth with a modern aeroplane scudding through 

 space. It should be stated here that these flying reptiles 

 of the bygone (their remains occur in Jurassic and 

 cretaceous rocks), were not the ancestors of our birds. 

 They belonged to a group of reptiles now extinct, but 

 nevertheless scientists are agreed that the ancestor of 

 our birds was a reptile, and the first bird of which we have 

 any evidence is known as the Archceopteryx which means 

 " ancient bird." It was about the size of a Rook, and 

 the jaws contained sharp teeth. 



Geology teaches us that at one long period in Earth's 

 history all the largest animals then dominant were 

 reptiles, and these were divided into those which were 

 " huge dragons of the land, big bird-like reptiles in the 

 air, and fish-like creatures in the sea." ^ At least four 

 hundred fossil reptiles have been found in the British 

 area, including those of some existing forms. But we 

 must not be tempted to pursue this fascinating topic in 

 this volume, its mention here being made so as to prompt 

 the young student to prosecute enquiry on his own 

 account, and to show what an important position these 



* See " Every Boy's Book of Geology " (R.T.S.). By Tiueman 

 and Westell. 

 4 



