126 ANIMAL LIFE PAST AND PRESENT. 



respectively known as the pubis and ischium, lying 

 nearly parallel to one another and directed behind the 

 aforesaid cup for the thigh-bone. The pubis, or more 

 anterior bone, also gives off a small process (p) pro- 

 jecting from its upper end towards the head of the 

 animal. Now this type of pelvis is found, at the 

 present day, only among birds, that of lizards and 

 crocodiles being quite different. If, however, we turn 

 to the figure of the skeleton of the Iguanodon (woodcut 

 33), we shall find, as already briefly mentioned, that the 

 pubis and ischium (seen to the right of the leg) run 

 parallel to one another, and are directed backwards 

 after the fashion obtaining in birds. It is true, indeed, 

 that in the Iguanodon the pubis is shorter than the 

 ischium; and it also gives off a large anterior plate 

 (seen to the left of the leg) corresponding to the small 

 process p in the pelvis of the Kiwi. These, however, 

 are but minor points of difference which do not affect 

 the fundamental identity of plan. Again, the haunch- 

 bone of the Iguanodon extends far in advance of the 

 cup for the head of the thigh-bone, and thus once more 

 follows (or, as we should rather say, leads) the bird- 

 fashion. These peculiarities in the structure of the 

 pelvis of the Iguanodon, coupled with other features in 

 its organisation, ought to leave no doubt, in the minds 

 of all unprejudiced observers who hold the doctrine of 

 evolution, that there is some direct affinity between the 

 extinct Giant Reptiles and the modern wingless birds. 



Turning now to the pelvis of the Megalosaur, of 

 which a greatly reduced representation is given in 



