6 ON THE PECTORAL AND PELVIC ARCHES OF ARCH^OPTERYX, 



one genus, the Ratite Struthio ; and here there is no resemblance 

 in shape to the corresponding symphysis in Archceopteryx. The 

 nearest approach to the form of the pubis in the fossil appears 

 to occur in Cohjmhus, where the incurved distal end of the long 

 slender bone expands inwardly into a delicate triangular lamina, 

 but does not meet its fellow of the opposite side. 



While distinctly avian, therefore, the pelvis of Archceopteryx, 

 like the pectoral arch, is more closely similar to that of certain 

 reptiles than that of any other known bird ; and the only exist- 

 ing bird repeating its most characteristic feature, the symphysial 

 union of the pubes, is a ratite. 



BiBLIoaRAPHY. 



1863, R. Owen, " On the ArcJieopteryx of von Meyer, with a 



Description of the Fossil Remains of a Long-tailed 



Species, from the Lithographic Stone of Solenhofen." 



Phil. Trans. 1863, pp. 33-47, pis. i.-iv. 

 1868. T. H. Huxley, "Remarks upon ArclunopUryx Uthogra- 



})hica." Proc. Ro}'-. Soc. vol. xvi, pp. 243-248. 

 1881. H. G. Seeley, "On some Differences between the London 



and Berlin Specimens referred to Archceopteryx.'" Geol. 



Mag. [2 1 vol. viii. pp. 454-455, pi. xii. 

 1884. W. Dames, " IJeber Archceopteryx." Palseont. Abhandl. 



vol. ii. pp. 119-196, pi. XV. 

 1897. AV. Dames, " Ueber Brustbein, Schulter- nnd Beckengiirtel 



der Archceopteryx." Sitzungsb. k,-preuss. Akad. Wiss., 



Jahrg. 1897, pp. 818-834. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



Pig. 1. Archceopteri/.v macrura Owen ; fore limb as displayed on the slab of stone, 

 about four-thirds nat. size, — LithojiTaphic Stone (Lower Kimnieridgian) ; 

 Solenhofen, Bavaria. [British Museum no. 37001.] 

 la. Coracoid of same in front view. 



2. Furcnla of same specimen, ventral face, about four-thirds nat. size. 



3. Pelvis of same specimen as displayed on the .slab of stone, aljout four-thirds 



uat. size. 



4. Arclimnpteri/.v siemen.ti Dames ; pelvis, rit^ht side view, about nat. size. — 



Ibid. [Berlin Museum of Natui-al History.] After Dames, 1897. 



a., acromial process of scapula; c, carpus (with distal extension probably of 

 calcified tendon) ; co.. coracoid ; f., facette for farcula ; /e., femu.r ; //., humerus ; 

 il ., ilium ; is., ischium ; pn., pubis ; ?•., radius ; s., supposed anterior end of sternum ? 

 sc, scapula; u., ulna; .v., calcite pi-obably representing imperfectb" calcified car- 

 tilage. 



