OKNITHOCHIRUS. 



11 



is a median longitudinal ridge on the palate, and a corresponding 

 groove in the mandibular symphysis ; the scapula and coracoid are 

 frequently anchylosed. The skull may be either short, or with a 

 long rostrum. Seeley 7 considers that there are only three digits in 

 the manus of some species ; and there appears to have been a long 

 tail 2 in at least some forms. 



This genus includes the largest known members of the Suborder ; 

 if less imperfect specimens were forthcoming it might probably be 

 subdivided into groups or genera, but at present the only safe 

 course seems to arrange the species according to the geological 

 horizons from which the type examples were obtained. Many of 

 the species are probably invalid. 



A. Species typically from the Chalk. 

 Ornithochirus compressirostris (Owen 3 ). 

 Syn. Pterodactylus compressirostris, Owen 4 . 



Keferred to this genus by Seeley (' Ornithosauria,' p. 92). The 

 species is of very large size, and has the skull produced into a very 

 long and narrow rostrum, with numerous small teeth. Owen esti- 

 mates the length of the entire skull at about 0,450. 



Hah. Europe (England). 



39410. Two fragments of the cranial rostrum ; from the Lower 



{Fig.) Chalk of Burham, Kent. These specimens are the type, 



and are figured by Owen in his ' Cretaceous B,eptilia,' 



pi. xxviii. figs. 8-10, a restoration of the skull being given 



in pi. xxvii. fig. 1. 



Boiuerbank Collection. Purchased, 1865. 



39416. Fragment of a rostrum probably belonging to this species ; 

 from the Chalk of Kent. Same history. 



The following specimens are referred to this species by Owen. 



49004. The imperfect radius and ulna ; from the Chalk of Burham. 

 {Fig.) Figured by Owen, op. cit. pi. xxx. figs. 5, 5 a. 



Touhnin-Smith Collection. Purchased, 1869. 



1 Vide Geol. Mag. dec. 2, vol. viii. p. 17 (1881). 



2 It has been suggested by Seeley (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxi. p. 466) 

 that the vertebrae originally described by him as caudal may be cervical, but 

 from the analogy of Bhamphorhynchios the writer is inclined to adhere to the 

 original view. 



3 Cretaceous Reptilia (Mon. Pal. Soc), p. 95 (1851).— Pterodactylus. 

 1 Loc. cit. 



