Geology and Mineralogy considered with reference to Natural Theology/Plate 21

Plate 21. V. I. p. 171.

Pterodactylus longirostris in the lithographic slate of Aiehstedt. (Cuvier and Goldfuss.)

In this Plate, and Plate 22, the same letters and figures designate the corresponding Bones in the different Animals to which they are affixed; they are copied chiefly from the figure and Explanations of Dr. Goldfuss, in his Beitrage zur Kenntniss verschiedener Reptilien der Vorwelt.

r. Cavitas narium.

A. Cavitas inter media.

e. Orbita.

a. Maxilla superior.

b. Vel os nasi vel inter-maxilla re?

c. Operculum nasale.

d. Aut os frontis anterius vel nasale?

e. Os frontis proprium.

f. Os parietal.

g. Os petrosum.

H. Pars basilaris ossis occipitis.

h. Pars lateral is,

i. Os tympani cum s. quadratum.

k. Os frontis posterius.

1. Os mastoideum.

m. Os zygomaticum.

n. Aut os lacrymale vel superciliare?

o. Annulus orbital is.

P. Corpus ossis sphenoidei.

p. Processus trans versus ossis sphenoidei.

q. Os pterygoideum.

r. Os transversum.

s. Os platinum.

t. Processus palatines maxillae superioris.

v. Pars angular is inferior maxillae inferioris.

vv. Pars angularis superior.

x. Pars condyloidea.

y. Pars complement aria, Cuv. (coronal is, auctor.

z. Os hyoidefum.

I. Atlas.
II. Epistropheus.
III—VII. Vertebrae colli.
VIII—XXII. Vertebrae dorsi.
XXIII. XXIV. Vertebrae lumborum.
XXV. XXVI. Os sacrum.
XXVII. Ossa coccygea.
XXVIII. Sternum.
1—15. Costae.
16. Scapula.
17. Os coracoideum.
18. Ilium.
19. Os pubis.
20. Os ischium.
21. Humerus.
22. Ulna.
23. Radius.
24. Carpus.
25. Os metacarpi primum s. pollicis.
26. O. m. secundum.
27. O. m. tertium.
28. O. m. quartum.
29. O. m. quintum.
30, 31. Phalanges.
32—34. Ph. indicis.
35—38. Ph. disiti medii.

39—43. Ph. digiti annularis.
44—47. Ph. digiti auricularis.
48. Femur.
49. Tibia.
50. Fibula.
51. Tarsus.
52—56. Metatarsus.
57, 58. Phalanges digiti primi.
59—61. Ph. d. secundi.
62—65. Ph. d. tertii.
66—70. Ph. d. quarti.
71—74. Ph. d. quinti.
δ Impressions of the membrane of the wing.[1]




  1. Professor Agassiz considers that the Corrugations on the surface of the Stone (δ), which Dr. Goldfuss supposed to be the impressions of Hairs, or Feathers, are only casts of the minute foldings of the contracted membrane of the wing. It is probable that Pterodactyles had a naked skin like the Ichthyosaurus; (See Pl. 10. A.) because the weight of scales would have encumbered their movements in the air.