class="c8">Amphisbæna

  "   19. Chamæleonida       Ophidia. Non-venemous
constricting 20. Aglyphodontia   Python, Tortrix Older
Tertiary
to recent. "   21. Opisthoglyphia     "   22. Proteroglyphia     " Vipers and
Rattlesnakes 23. Solenoglyphia   Crotalus "   24. Typhlopidæ     Icthyosauria.   . . . .   Icthyosaurus Trias(?) to
chalk inclusive. Crocodile. Alligator 26. Alligatoridæ   Alligator Caiman
Jacare Trias to
recent. " Crocodiles 27. Crocodilidæ   Crocodilus
Mecistops " Gavials 28. Gavialidæ   Rhynchosuchus
Gavialis "   29. Teleosauidæ   Teleosaurus "   30. Belodontidæ   Belodon Dicynodontia.   31.     . . .   Dicynodon
Oudenodon Trias. Ornithoscelida   32. Dinosauria   Thecodontosaurus
Scelidosaurus Trias
Lias Mesozoic
formations.         Megalosaurus
Iguanodon Middle &
Upper
Mesozoic     33. Compsognatha     Solenhofen
slates Pterosauria. Flying
reptile 34. Pterodactylidæ   Ornithopterus
Pterodactylus
Rhamphorynchus
Dimorphodon Lias to
Chalk
inclusive. Aves.

The most bird-like of reptiles, the Pterosauria, appear to have possessed true powers of flight; they were provided with wings formed by an expansion of the integument, and supported by an enormous elongation of the ulnar finger of the anterior limb. The generic differences are based upon the comparative lengths of the tail, and upon the dentition. In Pterodactylus (see Fig. 2, p. 18), the tail is very short, and the jaws strong, pointed, and toothed to their anterior extremities. In Rhamphorynchus (see Fig. 8, p. 18), the tail is very long and the teeth are not continuous to the extremities of the jaws, which are produced into toothless beaks. The majority of the species are small, and they are generally considered to have been inoffensive creatures, having much the habits and insectivorous mode of living of bats. One British species, however, from the white chalk of Maidstone, measures more than sixteen feet across the outstretched wings; and other forms recently discovered by Professor Marsh in the Upper Cretaceous deposits of Kansas, attain the gigantic proportions of nearly twenty-five feet for the same measurements; and although these were devoid of teeth (thus approaching the class Aves still more closely), they could hardly fail, from their magnitude and powers of flight, to have been formidable, and must, with their weird aspects, and long outstretched necks and pointed heads, have been at least sufficiently alarming.

We need go no farther than these in search of creatures which would realise the popular notion of the winged dragon.

The harmless little flying lizards, belonging to the genus Draco, abounding in the East Indian archipelago, which have many of their posterior ribs prolonged into an expansion of the integument, unconnected with the limbs, and have a limited and parachute-like flight, need only the element of size, to render them also sufficiently to be dreaded, and capable of rivalling the Pterodactyls in suggesting the general idea of the same monster.

It is, however, when we pass to some of the other groups, that we find ourselves in the presence of forms so vast and terrible, as to more than realise the most exaggerated impression of reptilian power and ferocity which the florid imagination of man can conceive.

We have long been acquainted with numerous gigantic terrestrial Saurians, ranging throughout the whole of the Mesozoic formations, such as Iguanodon (characteristic of the Wealden), Megalosaurus (Great Saurian), and Hylæosaurus (Forest Saurian), huge bulky creatures, the last of which, at least, was protected by dermal armour partially produced into prodigious spines; as well as with remarkable forms essentially marine, such as Icthyosaurus (Fish-like Saurian), Plesiosaurus, &c., adapted to an oceanic existence and propelling themselves by means of paddles. The latter, it may be remarked, was furnished with a long slender swan-like neck, which, carried above the surface of the water, would present the appearance of the anterior portion of a serpent.