OF CREATION. 125 



from that of any other known lizard, recent or ex- 

 tinct, resembling rather the beak of a bird, or that 

 of the hawkVbill turtle, than the head of a lizard, 

 and this resemblance is increased by the absence of 

 teeth. The bones of the jaw (see fig. 47) converge 

 towards the front of the mouth, and form there a 

 curved bony mandible, probably encased by a horny 

 sheath. 



Fig. 47 



RHYNCHOSAURUS. 

 (Side View of the Skull.) 



The bones of the extremities, found with this skull, 

 indicate the terrestrial habits of the animal, and ex- 

 hibit resemblances to the land reptiles of a later 

 period, while the vertebrae present some interesting 

 deviations from the lizard type. 



The Dicynodon, with the same type of skull as the 

 Rhynchosaur, and in other respects more nearly re- 

 sembling this reptile than any other known animal, ex- 

 hibits, however, very singular modifications, pointing 

 in one direction towards the poisonous serpents, in 

 another to the carnivorous quadrupeds, in a third to the 

 tortoises and turtles, and in a fourth to the crocodiles 

 and lizards. The lower jaw exhibits no trace of 

 teeth, but presents a smooth and even edge. The 

 upper jaw is short, strong, and truncated, having 



