184-5.] BOWERBANK ON A NEW PTERODACTYL. 7 



3. On a new Species of Fterobactyl found in the Upper Chalk of 

 Kent. By J. S. Bowerbank, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S. 

 (Plate T.) 

 I HAVE recently obtained from the upper chalk of Kent some re- 

 mains of a large species of Pterodactylus. The bones consist of — 



1. The fore part of the head as far as about the middle of the cavitas narium, 



with a corresponding portion of the under jaws, — many of the teeth remain- 

 ing in their sockets. (See Plate, fig. 1.) 



2. A fragment of a bone of the same animal, apparently a part of the coracoid. 



(Fig. 2.) 



3. A portion of what appears to be one of the bones of the auricular digit, from 



a chalk-pit at Hailing. (Fig. 3.) 



4. A portion of a similar bone, from the same locality as No. 1. (Fig. 4.) 



5. The head of a long bone, probably the tibia, belonging to the same animal as 



the head No. 1. (Fig. 5.) 



6. A more perfect bone of the same description, not from the same animal, but 



found at HalUng. (Fig. 6.) 



The latter specimen appears to me to be the same description of 

 bone as that described by Professor Owen in the Geological Trans- 

 actions (2nd Ser. vol. vi. p. 411, and pi. 39. fig. 1). The mutilated 

 condition of the figured specimen would not allow Professor Owen 

 to speak of its identity with the bird tribe with great certainty, and 

 he at the same time points out its discrepant characters. 



From a comparison of the specimens Nos. 5 and 6 with the figure 

 in the Transactions, and from my recollection of the original, I am 

 very much disposed, with due deference to Professor Owen, to believe 

 that it may ultimately prove to be the bone of a Pterodactylus in- 

 stead of a bird ; and this is the more probable, as the bone in ques- 

 tion, and the head and bones of the animal now produced, are from 

 the same pit at Burham in Kent. 



[iVbfe by the author, dated Dec. 1845.] — Since the above brief 

 communication was made to the Society, I have had an opportunity, 

 through the kindness of Professor Owen, of comparing the bone re- 

 presented by fig. 6 in the annexed plate with the specimen belonging 

 to the Earl of Enniskillen, which is figured in the Transactions of 

 the Geological Society as a portion of the shaft of the humerus of a 

 longipennate bird, and from the comparison thus made, I am the 

 more inclined to believe that the latter is in truth the bone of a 

 Pterodactyl. Although the two specimens differ greatly in size, 

 there is so strong a resemblance between them in the form and 

 degree of the angularity of the shaft, and in the comparative sub- 

 stance of the bony structure, as to render it exceedingly probable 

 that they belong to the same class of animals. 



It is true that the bone represented in fig. 6 is not part of the group 

 of bones associated with the head, so as to be at once stamped as be- 

 longing to a Pterodactyl ; but it is fortunate that among that group of 

 bones there is one, fig. 5, which there is every reason to believe is 

 the head of a bone corresponding with that represented by fig. 6, 

 but having the opposite side exposed to view ; thus connecting the 

 latter with the former in such a manner as to leave no rc^asonablo 

 doubt of their both having belonged to the same class of animals. 



