2O2 



EXTINCT MONSTERS 



have been a certain bone belonging to the skull, known as the 

 quadrate bone. 



Pterodactylus macronyx, or, as it is now called, Diniorphodon 

 macronyx (Fig. 72), was about the size of a raven. It was dis- 

 covered in 1828 by the late Miss Mary Anning, the well-known 

 collector of fossils from the Liassic rocks that form the cliffs along 

 the coast of Dorsetshire, near Lyme Regis. This important speci- 

 men was figured and described by Dr. Buckland, in the Trans- 

 actions of the Geological Society. He suggested the specific name 

 macronyx on account of the great length of the claws. 



This authority pointed out an unusual provision for giving 



FIG. 72. Skeleton of Dimorpliodon macronyx. (After Owen.) 



support and power of movement to the large head at the extremity 

 of a rather long neck, namely, the occurrence of fine long tendons 

 running parallel to the neck-vertebrae. This does not occur in 

 any modern lizards, whose necks are short, and require no such 

 aid to support the head. The restoration of the skeleton seen in 

 the figure is by Professor Owen. It is probable that this Ptero- 

 dactyl 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 membrane 

 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. 



