AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
[THIRD SERIES] 
ART: XXIV.—The Wings of Pterodactyles; (with Plate III), 
by Professor O. C. MArsH. 
THE first Pterosaurians discovered were recognized as 
flying animals, but were thought to be bats. As soon as their 
general structure became known, they were classed with the 
Reptiles, although it was considered possible that their power 
ight was due to feathers. Later, their bones were mis- 
taken for those of Birds by various experienced anatomists, 
and others regarded them as sharing important characters with 
e an 
limbs of Pterodactvles were used for swimming, rather than for . 
flight, and this view has found supporters within the present 
decade. A single fortunate discovery, made a few years 
since, has done much to settle the question as to the wings of 
Pterodactyles, as well as their mode of flight, and it is the 
aim of the present article to place on record some of the more 
over, the extremity of the long tail supported a separate ver- 
tical membrane, which was evidently used as a rudder in flight. 
Am. Jour. BE rad Series, VoL. XXIII, No. 136.—AprIL, 1882. 
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