446 



MESOZOIC ERA— AGE OF REPTILES. 



lar combination of bird and reptilian characters have been made out. 

 Among bird characters are (1.) The strong shoulder-girdle and keeled 



Fig. 703.— Archaeopteryx macroura, Berlin specimen (after Seeley). 



sternum necessary for flying (but Pterosaurs also have these). (2.) A 

 horny beak (but turtles and Rhynchosaurs and some Dinosaurs have 

 this). (3.) Tridactyl feet (some Dinosaurs have these). (4.) Feath- 

 ered wings and tail. But, along with these, besides the toothed jaivs 

 and long tail of reptiles, already mentioned, there were also the 

 following characters: 1. The metatarsals (three in number) were 

 separate, as in reptiles and embryo of birds. 2. The pelvic bones 

 were unconsolidated, as in reptiles and embryo of birds. 3. The three 

 fingers were all free and armed with claws. So complete is the mix- 

 ture of the two kinds of characters that some zoologists (Vogt) be- 

 lieve that the reptilian characters predominate, and that it should be 



