680 



PROF. H. G. SEELEY ON THE EEPTILE 



Femur, 



Biinzel, though referring this specimen to the right side of the 

 body, has given no indication as to its proximal and distal ends. 

 These determinations are a matter of some difficulty ; but it is well 

 known that, as a rule, a Dinosaurian femur is thicker on the inner 

 than on the external margin, which is commonly compressed : and 

 there is usually a certain compression of the bone on the posterior 

 surface. I have hence been led to regard this specimen as probably 

 the shaft of a left femur which has lost both the proximal and distal 

 ends. The fragment is 6 centim. long ; the shaft is curved more 

 after the crocodilian than the Dinosaurian pattern; only it is a 

 simple convex curve, without any trace of a sigmoid flexure. The 

 shaft is nearly cylindrical, 1 centim. in diameter in the middle, 

 where most constricted ; and there it is about 9 millim. thick. What 

 I take to be the distal end expands transversely to 13 millim., is 

 flattened on the superior and inner borders, flat or concave on the 

 inferior border, somewhat compressed towards the external side. 

 The bone is 9 millim. thick on the inner margin, and 6 millim. 

 thick on the outer margin. Proximally there is a nearly similar ex- 

 pansion of the bone ; only the inner border is directed well inwards, 

 the external border is more flattened, and the inferior surface is 

 flattened. The width of the proximal end, as preserved, is 1^ centim. 

 It is impossible, in the absence of more distinctive characters, to 

 form any opinion as to the affinities of this specimen. A curious 

 circumstance concerning it is that, while indubitably a left femur, 

 either end could be regarded as proximal. 



Vertebra. 



Two vertebrae are figured by Biinzel, pi. viii. figs. 2-4, which he 

 regarded as indicating a foetal Dinosaur. It is difficult to discover 

 any evidences that would enable one to confirm this remarkable 

 speculation. The vertebrae are beyond all doubt Dinosaurian ; but 

 except in the fact that the neural arch is lost, there is no sign of 

 immaturity. The articular ends are perfectly ossified and almost 

 flat ; and though the specimens are a trifle worn from rolling, I have 

 no doubt that they must be referred to a fairly well-developed 

 animal. The larger and better-preserved vertebra has the centrum 

 \\ centim. long, with the sides somewhat converging, but well 

 rounded below. There is the base of a transverse process, seen in 

 the middle of the side, just below the pit for the neural arch. This 

 circumstance determines the vertebra as an early caudal. The 

 transverse measurement over the bases of these processes is 14 millim. 

 The anterior articular surface is nearly circular, 1| centim. deep, 

 and nearly as wide, with the margin rounded and the articular sur- 

 face nearly flat. The posterior articular end appears to have been 

 rather small and rather more concave. The neural arch did not 

 extend the whole length of the centrum. The neural canal is con- 

 cave from front to back. There are no signs of facets for chevron 

 bones. 



