THE GREAT FISH-LIZARDS 
71 
In the year 1892 there was discovered in the Lias of Wiirtem- 
berg the skeleton of an Ichthyosaur, in which the outline of the 
fleshy parts is completely preserved (see lower figure). The 
reader will see from the figure that the tail-fin is very large, 
and the backbone appears to run into the lower lobe. Such a 
tail-fin as this impression indicates must have resembled that 
of the shark, only it is wider ; but the shark’s backbone runs 
into the ujpjper lobe. Sir Richard Owen long ago foretold the 
existence of this appendage, and the discovery, coming now, adds 
one more tribute to his genius. 
As Dr. Rraas remarks, this discovery shows how closely 
analogous Ichthyosaurs were in form to fishes, and further 
justifies the title of “fish-lizards.” He considers that they did 
not visit the shore. 
Speaking of the limbs, it should be mentioned that the bones 
of each finger, instead of being elongated and limited in number 
to three in each of the five fingers, are polygonal in shape and 
arranged in as many as seven or eight rows, while those of each 
finger are exceedingly numerous. Thus the whole structure 
forms a kind of bony pavement which must have been very 
supple. Such a limb would be one of the most efficient and 
powerful swimming organs known in the whole animal kingdom. 
In whales the fingers of the flippers are of the usual number, 
namely, five. Some species of fish-lizards had as many as over 
a hundred separate little bones in the fore paddle. 
Another question naturally suggests itself : Were they vivi- 
parous, or did they lay eggs like crocodiles ? This question seems 
to have been answered in favour of the first supposition ; and 
in the following interesting manner. It not infrequently happens 
that entire little skeletons of very small individuals are found 
under the large ones. They are invariably uninjured, and of 
