132 CLASSIFICATION OF AMPHIBIANS. 



(130.) In what way the skin of the Pterodactyli 

 was coveredj is a question df no easy solution^ since 

 nothing could be traced in the fossil skeletons of the 

 long-beaked species^ calculated to throw hght upon this 

 interesting inquiry. It Seems, however, as Mr. Kirby 

 obligingly informs us, that a new species of these 

 wonderful reptiles has very recently been discovered by 

 Professor Goldfuss of Bonn, in the Solenhofer slate. 

 From the account which ]M. Oken has just published 

 of this fossil, it appears that there is sufficient reason to 

 conclude it was not only covered with hairs, but also 

 with feathers ! If this supposition is well founded, it 

 confirms, m a most remarkable manner, the position 

 which we have assigned to these 'animals in the circle 

 of the vertebrata, and incontestably proves that they 

 formed the true link of connection between the class of 

 reptiles and that of birds. We shall now show that 

 this theory receives a confirmation equally strong, by 

 the analogies which result from assigning this station 

 to the Pterodactyli. 



(131.) It necessarily follows from the foregoing line 

 of teasoning, that if the Pterodactyli compose that 

 group which leads more immediately to birds, they 

 are the "most aberrant division of the Enalosaures ; 

 and as every aberrant group has three of these divisions, 

 the two others remain to be discovered. One of 

 these must have intervened between the sea turtles 

 (Clielonides), and the fish- 40 



lizards {Ichthyosaures), while 

 the other must have con- 

 ducted us to the true serpents 

 (Ophides), by some form 

 which blended Plesiosaurus 

 with the aquatic serpents. 

 The Pterodactyli will thus 

 have on each side an hiatus, 

 as may be better understood 

 by the annexed diagram or 

 circle of the order Enalo- 

 saures, 





To the Serpents/ 





or Ophides^/ 





^-~/^' ^ 





/ Plesiosaurut. 



To 



Thirds. -^pterodactilus. 





\ ^ Ichthyosauri- 



y 



^ ^^ ^ 





To the Turtl^\. 





or Chel<yniiles. \ 



