On a Feathered Fossil. 317 



from a friend* a fuller description of the fossil, which he quotes 

 at length. 



Froni this report he was led to conclude that the affinities 

 of this wonderful creature were strongest to the Saurian rep- 

 tiles, and accordingly" he regarded its natural covering as merely 

 " presenting a deceptive resemblance to feathers," and he 

 named it Grvphosaurus (from >ypi(f)os, an enigma) . 



Fortunately for English paleontologists, through the exer- 

 tions of Professor Owen and Mr. Gr. R. Waterhouse (the latter 

 of whom made it the object of a special journey to Pappenheim), 

 this unique fossil has been acquired for the geological collection 

 in the British Museum. Here it will be open to the observa- 

 tion of all the world, and (before the issue of this present 

 number) will be described by Professor Owen before the Royal 

 Society, under the name of Griphomis longicaudatus, who thus 

 indicates his conviction that it is a bird.-f 



The lithographic limestone of Solenhofen, near Munich, 

 presents a strong resemblance in lithological character to the 

 White Lias, but its fossils are probably of the age of the Kim- 

 meridge clay. The formation is of marine origin, and abounds 

 in remains of cuttle-fishes, resembling in condition and cha- 

 racter the fossils of our lower Oxford clay at Chippenham, 

 ammonites, nautili, Crustacea, fishes, and also of winged insects 

 and pterodactyles. From the immense demand for this stone 

 for lithography, the quarries are as extensive as any in Europe. 

 The quarrymen work upon the lines of stratification, which are 

 beautifully parallel, and all the fossils are found upon the 

 natural surfaces, presenting an impression and counterpart in 

 almost every instance. The stone is often quarried to the 

 depth of eighty or ninety feet ! This feathered enigma presents 

 precisely similar appearances to all the other included organic 

 remains, being imbedded upon the surface of one la}-er, and 

 impressed in intaglio into the one overlying it, which bears not 

 only the cast, but portions of the bones upon its surface. 



The feathers, which are most beautifully preserved upon the 

 lower slab, were indistinct at first, being originally covered by 

 a thin film of fine calcareous mud, which M. Haberlein removed, 

 so as to exhibit the tail and wings, and some further portions 

 of the skeleton itself. The head, neck, and dorsal vertebrae 

 are wholly wanting. The right scapula and humerus and both 

 the fore-arms are well preserved : the former bones are present 

 on the left side, but imperfect ; the fore-arm consists of radius 

 and ulna ; a metacarpal bone is present on the left side, lying 



* The friend appears to have been his present successor in the museum of 

 Munich, Dr. Oppel. 



t The figure presented herewith is sketched from the actual specimen, and 

 carefully reduced. Professor Owen decided at the last moment to retain the name 

 Archceopteryx. 



