322 THE OXFORD OOLITE PERIOD. CHAP. 



Others of these vertebrae, posterior dorsals and lumbars, are 

 hour-glass shaped, with no parapophyses ; concave behind, less 

 concave or almost flat in front, or equally biconcave, much con- 

 stricted between the ends. No such vertebrae have been obtained 

 from Stonesfield. 



Others again are clearly caudal, apparently not anterior but 

 middle caudal, with a feeble transverse spine or ridge in the middle 

 of the side, somewhat like a caudal vertebra of teleosaurus : no such 

 has been seen from Stonesfield. 



Finally, there are posterior caudals more after the style of 

 crocodilian vertebrae, with extended posterior zygapophyses. No 

 match for these at Stonesfield. 



The vertebral system thus rapidly sketched corresponds exactly 

 with what Cuvier said of a species of crocodile found at Honfleur c , 

 to which he assigned a head like that of steneosaurus, and 

 to which the name of Strep tospondylus Cuvieri is applied by 

 Professor Owen d . 



In that fossil the cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae are convex 

 in front, even to become semiglobular ; the posterior dorsal and 

 lumbar bones lose this peculiarity, and become flat in front, and 

 afterwards both ends are concave through the caudal series. Pro- 

 fessor Owen refers to the species of Cuvier as being in evidence 

 from the oolite of Chipping-Norton, by a fragment of a dorsal 

 vertebra. He also speaks of a compressed tooth found with it 

 resembling the well-known form of megalosaurus, and, like it, worn 

 smooth and shining e . The description of the vertebra seems like 

 that of a small ceteosaurus. 



In the same mass was obtained a pair of incomplete bones which 

 expanded and met on the median line of the lower side of the 

 body, like ischia. 



If all the bones and teeth thus described belonged to one animal, 

 we should have an individual with the scapula, pelvis, limbs, jaws, 

 and teeth of megalosaurus, and the vertebrae of streptospondylus. 

 Is this possible ? Deinosaur and crocodile combined in one animal, 

 with excurrent analogy to birds of the struthious , race ? These 

 apparently discordant elements were certainly found together ; but 

 necessity has sometimes brought into juxtaposition very strange 

 fossil bedfellows. 



8 Oss. Foss. t. iii. part 2. d Reports of British Assoc 1841, p. 88. e Ibid. p. 89. 



