6 



ON THE PEGTOKAL AND PELVIC ARCHES OF ARCH^EOPTERYX. 



one genus, the Ratite Struthio ; and here there is no resemblance 

 in shape to the corresponding symphysis in Archceopteryx. The 

 nearest approach to the form of the pubis in the fossil appears 

 to occur in Colymbus, where the incurved distal end of the long- 

 slender bone expands inwardly into a delicate triangular lamina, 

 but does not meet its fellow of the opposite side. 



While distinctly avian T therefore, the pelvis of Archceopteryx, 

 like the pectoral arch, is more closely similar to that of certain 

 reptiles than that of any other known bird ; and the only exist- 

 ing bird repeating its most characteristic feature, the symjohysial 

 union of the pubes, is a ratite. 



Bibliography, 



1863. R. Owen, " On the Archeopteryx of von Meyer, with a 



Description of the Fossil Remains of a Long-tailed 



Species, from the Lithographic Stone of Solenhofen." 



Phil. Trans. 1863, pp. 33-47, pis. i.-iv. 

 1868. T. H. Huxley, "Remarks upon Archceopteryx lithogra- 



phica." Proc. Roy. Soc, vol. xvi. pp. 243-248. 

 1881. H. G. Seeley, "On some Differences between the London 



and Berlin Specimens referred to Archceopteryx." Geol. 



Mag. [21 vol. viii. pp. 454-455, pj. xii. 

 1884. W. Dames, " Ueber Archceopteryx.' 7 Pakeont. Abhanclh 



vol. ii. pp. 119-196, pi. xv. 

 1897. W. Dames, "Ueber Brustbein, Schulter- und Beckengiirtel 



der Archceopteryx." Sitzungsb. k.-preuss. Akad. Wiss., 



Jahrg. 1897, pp. 818-834. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



Fig, 1. Archeopteryx macmra Owen; fore limb as displayed on the si ah of stone, 

 about four-thirds nat. size. — Lithographic Stone (Lower Kimmeridgian) ; 

 Solenhofen, Bavaria. [British Museum no. 37001.] 

 1 a. Coracoid of same in front view. 



2. Fitrcula of same specimen, ventral face, about four-thirds nat. size. 



3. Pelvis of same specimen as displayed on the slab of stone, about four-thirds 



nat. size. 



4. Arcluvopteri/x siemensi Dames ; pelvis, right side view, about nat. size.^ 1 - 



Ibid. [Berlin Museum of Natural History.] After Dames, 1897. 



a., acromial process of scapula; c, carpus (with distal extension probably of 

 calcified tendon) ; co.. coracoid ; f., facette for furcula ; fe., femur ; h., humerus ; 

 if., ilium ; is., ischium ; pu., pubis ; r., radius ; s., supposed anterior end of sternum ; 

 sc., scapula; it., ulna; x., calcite probably representing imperfectly calcified car- 

 tilage. 



