122 



WATER REPTILES OF THE FAST AXD FRESENT 



are perhaps more frequently seen in the museums of the world 

 than those of any other extinct backboned animal. Fairly com- 

 plete skeletons may now be purchased of dealers in such things for 

 from fifty to seventy-five dollars. As may be supposed, the best 

 and most complete collections of these fossil remains are those of 

 the British Museum in London and the museum in Stuttgart. 

 From a study of those of the last-mentioned museum Professor 

 Fraas has learned many interesting facts and reached many inter- 

 esting conclusions regarding the life-habits of the ichthyosaurs. 

 In the accompanying figure (Fig. 59) is shown a photographic 

 reproduction of a very complete specimen, in which not only is 

 the outline of the whole body shown, but also much of the carbon- 

 ized remains of the muscles and skin has been detected. 



Fio. 5Q. — Ichlhyosaiinis qiiadricissus. (From a phoiogruph from B. Hauff, 

 Paleontologisches Atelier, Holzmaden.) 



The attachment of the paddles to the body was broad antero- 

 posteriorly, proving conclusively that they could not have been 

 much used in propulsion, either in the water or upon land, since 

 such use would require a fore-and-aft movement, and a consequent 

 twisting or rotation of the whole arm or leg, which, because of the 

 broad attachment, must have been very difficult, if not impossible. 



Microscopic examination of the remains of skin preserved dis- 

 closed an abundance of dark pigment, indicating. Professor Fraas 

 believes, that the skin was dark colored above. Doubtless, also, 

 the under side, as in nearl}- all swimming animals of the present 

 time, was of a lighter color, because such coloration rendered the 

 animals much less conspicuous in the water when seen either from 

 above or below. That the skin was bare is proved by many impres- 



