70 C03IPAKIS0NS OF STRUCTURE IN ANIMALS. 



elongated, like those of the neck of a heron; 

 but the vertebral column of the back and loins 

 is stout. In the short-muzzled pterodactyle, 

 (a small species) the neck is much more 

 abbreviated, and the head is much like that of 

 a goose in miniature. In the thick-muzzled 

 pterodactyles, the neck is long and extremely 

 stout, the vertebrae being short and broad, 

 with large processes; the rest of the skeleton 

 appearing disproportionately small and feeble; 

 but the anterior limbs are very long, and the 

 finger (outermost) for supporting the supposed 

 membrane is both stout and elongated. It is 

 very evident that the dilFerent species varied 

 greatly from each other in many details, as 

 to their general appearance when ahve, and 

 perhaps as to their habits and manners also. 

 In the long and stout-necked species, with a 

 large head, most probably the membrane 

 advanced principally from each side of the 

 neck, so as to balance the animal in flight, 

 and keep the head from being carried lower 

 than the rest of the body. Dr. Buckland 

 states, that in one species from the lias of 

 Lyme Eegis, we have evidence of an unusual 

 provision for giving support to a large head 

 at the extremity of a long neck, without 



