LONG-NECKED SEA-LIZARDS. 95 



bme of the reptiles under consideration have no facets 

 for ribs, the reader should bear in mind that this 

 applies only to the region of the back, since the small 

 ribs which are found in the necks of these creatures 

 are articulated with the sides of the bodies of the 

 vertebrae. 



In the general structure of the back-bone and ribs 

 the Long-Necked Lizards come nearer to crocodiles 

 than to any other existing reptiles. 



Such, then, are the chief features of the bony frame- 

 work of these curious reptiles. The absence of any 

 trace of bony plates, like those found in the skin of 

 the crocodiles, leads to the conclusion that the bodies 

 of the Long-Necked Lizards were clothed with a 

 smooth skin like that of porpoises. In regard to the 

 habits of the Plesiosaur, we cannot do better than 

 quote the words of Mr. Conybeare, who says : " That 

 it was aquatic, is evident from the form of its paddles ; 

 that it was marine is almost equally so, from the 

 remains with which it is universally associated ; that 

 it may have occasionally visited the shore, the resem- 

 blance of its extremities to those of the turtle may 

 lead us to conjecture ; its motion must, however, have 

 been very awkward on land ; its long neck must have 

 impeded its progress through the water; thus pre- 

 senting a striking contrast to the organisation which 

 so admirably fits the Ichthyosaur [Fish-Lizard] to cut 

 through the waves. May it not, therefore, be con- 

 cluded (since, in addition to these circumstances, its 

 respiration must have required frequent access to the 



