■PECTORAL AXU PELVIC ARCHES OF ARCfl.EorTERYX. o 



irregulniities in tlie rest of the border are jDVobably due to 

 imperfections in the fossil. 



As remarked by Huxley (1868), the furcula (PI. I. fig. 2) is 

 exposed fi'om its ventral f;ice. The new preparation of the 

 specimen hns only defined more clearly the shape of the upper 

 articular end on the left side *. 



Table of Measukbments. 



Scapula: mm. 



Greiitest length to apex of acromion 46 



Greatest breadth of distal end 6 



„ ,, proximal end 11 



Smallest breadth 3 



Greatest diameter of scapular part of glenoil fossa 5 



COEACOID : 



Greatest length from prominence above glenoid fossa to 



iiifero-internal angle 19 



Breadth at upper (h umeral) border Q 



Breadth at middle ■. 12 



Breadth at lower (sternal) border 12 



Greatest diameter of coracoidal i^art of glenoid fossa 3 



FtrucuLA : 



Greatest length 21 



Greatest width 31-5 



Greatest breadth of bone 4 



Inner angle of fiircula about 90°. 



It would be interesting to compare the pectoral arch of 

 ArcJiceopterf/x, as now made known, with the corresponding parts 

 in the second specimen in Berlin ; but, unfortunately, according 

 to the description by Dames (1897), the several bones in the 

 latter fossil are so imperfect, crushed, and obscured that no 

 satisfactory comparison is possible t. It must suffice to note that, 

 although Archceopteryx was obviously a bird of flight, its scapulo- 

 coracoid is moxe closely simila,r to that of certain Mesozoic 

 reptiles than that of any other known bird, and the nearest 

 approach- in shape to its coracoid is found in the existing E<atites 

 and the Cretaceous Hesperornis. In the fusion of the scapula 

 with the eoracoid and the very wide angle at which these bones 

 meet, it agrees only with the ratite birds and tlie I'eptiles. 



Pelvic Arch, 



In the pelvic arch (PL I. fig. 3) the right iliwm (il.) and 

 ischium (^s.) ai'O exposed on their outer face, while the two 

 pubes {piv.) are displaced and seen fiom above. The bones were 



* A small prominence on the stone below the middle of the furcula maj' perhaps 

 mark the anterior end of the sternum (PI. 1. fig. 2, s.). — B. P. 



t I venture, however, to make the conaparison, notwithstanding imporfectioiis in 

 tht: Berlin specimen.-— B. P. 



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