OF CREATION. 



159 



the animal most readily to breathe, without exposing 

 anything more than the apertures themselves above 

 the water, corresponding admirably with the marine 

 habits of the animal, as indicated by the structure of 

 its extremities. 



The jaws of the Plesiosaur are strong and rather 

 spoon-shaped ; they were provided with a large num- 

 ber of teeth probably not less than a hundred 

 which were conical, slender, long, and pointed, slight- 

 ly bent inwards, and deeply grooved. These teeth 

 had long fangs, and were planted in separate sockets, 

 as in the crocodile. They could also be repeatedly 

 and indefinitely renewed. It is probable that the 

 animal could, like some serpents, swallow prey ac- 

 tually larger than the size of its head, the bones being 

 so little attached that the cavity of the mouth could 

 become greatly dilated by a violent effort. There 

 can be no doubt that the habits of the animal were 

 strictly carnivorous. 



The long neck, gra- 

 dually swelling as it 

 receded from the head, 

 and provided with false 

 ribs, passed perhaps al- 

 most insensibly into the 

 body, which, though 

 of small size, is ex- 

 ceedingly compact and 

 strongly put together. 

 The back-bone, from 

 the neck to the com- 

 mencement of the tail, 

 includes from about 



Fig. 53 



VERTEBRAE OF PLESIOSAURUS. 



