92 ANIMAL LIFE PAST AND PRESENT. 



of each finger are entirely disconnected from those of 

 the adjacent fingers. The above essential differences 

 in the structure of the paddles of the Long-Necked 

 Lizards from those of the Fish- Lizards will be apparent 

 by comparing Figs. 25 and 26 with Fig. 23. It was 

 probably on account of the structure of the paddles, 

 which departs less from the ordinary type than is the 

 case with the Fish-Lizards, that Mr. Conybeare was 

 led to propose the name Plesiosaur, derived from the 

 Greek plesios, nearer, and sauros, a lizard. 



Equally remarkable differences occur in the form 

 and arrangement of the bones of the shoulder and 

 haunches, but since their illustration would require a 

 long detailed description, we shall pass them by, only 

 mentioning that in the Long-Necked Lizards they 

 form very large plate-like expansions on the lower 

 aspect of the body. 



A glance at the figures of the two creatures will at 

 once show a great difference in the relative size of 

 their skulls; that of the Long-Necked Lizard being 

 comparatively short and stout, and thus adapted to be 

 supported and rapidly moved by the long and slender 

 neck. Important differences are also found in the form 

 and arrangement of the individual bones composing 

 the skulls, but it will suffice on this occasion to men- 

 tion that the Long-Necked Lizards differ from their 

 short-necked contemporaries by the absence of a ring 

 of bony plates within the eye-ball,* and also by the 

 circumstance that their long and sharp teeth are im- 



* In Fis^. 22 in the chapter on Fish-Lizards. 



