FLYING DRAGONS, OR PTERODACTYLES. 141 



spends to the breast-bone of a bird, and, like that of 

 the majority of birds, has a keel projecting in front 



FIG. 43. The skeleton of a Pterodactyle. The creature is lying on its back, with 

 the head bent to the left side, a indicates the left pubic bone ; the haunch- 

 bone, or ilium, being shown on the opposite side. (After Von Meyer.) 



for the support of the strong muscles of the breast 

 necessary to move the wing in flight. This remarkable 

 similarity between the breast-bone of a Pterodactyle 



