The Ornithosauria: An elementary study of the bones of Pterodactyles made from fossil remains found in the Cambridge Upper Greensand, and arranged in the Woodwardian Museum of the University of Cambridge — John Shaqi
The Ornithosauria: An elementary study of the bones of Pterodactyles made from fossil remains found in the Cambridge Upper Greensand, and arranged in the Woodwardian Museum of the University of CambridgeSeeley, H. G. (Harry Govier)
Science
The Ornithosauria: An elementary study of the bones of Pterodactyles made from fossil remains found in the Cambridge Upper Greensand, and arranged in the Woodwardian Museum of the University of Cambridge
Seeley, H. G. (Harry Govier)
Pterosauria
This we infer from the circumstance that
the animal, in a position with the organs of flight folded up, was
not supported like the bat on its four feet, but stood upright on its
hind-legs like a bird. Such a position presumes the same freedom in
moving the hind extremities as with birds; only in such a position
could the animal walk on without being hindered by its flying organs
when they were folded up like those of a bird. Only in such an upright
position could the animal keep upright its unusually long head with the
long and strong neck and be kept in balance, the neck being able to
take a sigmoid curve like that of a bird.
Wagner concludes: "By these means we have recognised in the
Pterodactyle a Saurian, but of a habitude which greatly removes him
from all others of his kind, and approximates him to birds. Excepting
in ability to fly, he has nothing in common with the birds. The opinion
'that the animal is half crocodile half monitor disguised as a bird,
but intending to be a bird,' is therefore not only a paradox but also
false. With more truth, but less phantasy, we could say that the
Pterodactyle was a Saurian in transition to the Birds."
Quenstedt[J].
[Footnote J: _Ueber Pterodactylus Suevicus._ Tubingen 1855.
In the long thigh, with the long neck, Quenstedt sees evidence that the
animal was able to walk upright, being probably still more upright than
birds, since the great disproportion between the neck on the one hand,
and the thigh on the other, could not have allowed a more appropriate
position. At the same time he makes a question, Did it go on four feet?
But a little later, in his book, _Sonst und Jetzt_, 1856, he gives
a sketch of the animal resting on its four legs; and remarks, "The
position upon four feet is however hypothetical, but is probable. It
had its wings folded back. The slightly curved and thin bones of the
middle hand probably served to support the flying-membrane, and had
therefore the same function as the spur-bone in the bats." Finally, he
says in his book, _der Jura_, p. 813, "Perhaps this animal walked from
time to time on four legs, being then supported by the fore-end of the
metatarsal bone."]
Burmeister[K].
[Footnote K: _Beleuchtung uniger Pterodactylus arten._ 1855.]
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