THE GREAT FISH-LIZARDS 71 



In the year 1892 there was discovered in the Lias of Wurtem- 

 berg the skeleton of an Ichthyosaur, in which the outline of the 

 fleshy parts is completely preserved (see lower figure). The 

 reader will see from the figure that the tail-fin is very large, 

 and the backbone appears to run into the lower lobe. Such a 

 tail-fin as this impression indicates must have resembled that 

 of the shark, only it is wider ; but the shark's backbone runs 

 into the upper lobe. Sir Eichard Owen long ago foretold the 

 existence of this appendage, and the discovery, coming now, adds 

 one more tribute to his genius. 



As Dr. Fraas remarks, this discovery shows how closely 

 analogous Ichthyosaurs were in form to fishes, and further 

 justifies the title of " fish- lizards." He considers that they did 

 not visit the shore. 



Speaking of the limbs, it should be mentioned that the bones 

 of each finger, instead of being elongated and limited in number 

 to three in each of the five fingers, are polygonal in shape and 

 arranged in as many as seven or eight rows, while those of each 

 finger are exceedingly numerous. Thus the whole structure 

 forms a kind of bony pavement which must have been very 

 supple. Such a limb would be one of the most efficient and 

 powerful swimming organs known in the whole animal kingdom. 

 In whales the fingers of the flippers are of the usual number, 

 namely, five. Some species of fish-lizards had as many as over 

 a hundred separate little bones in the fore paddle. 



Another question naturally suggests itself: Were they vivi- 

 parous, or did they lay eggs like crocodiles ? This question seems 

 to have been answered in favour of the first supposition ; and 

 in the following interesting manner. It not infrequently happens 

 that entire little skeletons of very small individuals are found 

 under the large ones. They are invariably uninjured, and of 



