FIG.PAGE
[47.]Wings of RhamphorhynchusFrontispiece
[1.]Lung of the lung-fish Ceratodus[5]
[2.]Attachment of the lower jaw in a Mammal and in a Pterodactyle[12]
[3.]Chaldæan Dragon[15]
[4.]Winged human figure from the Temple of Ephesus[16]
[5.]Flying fish Exocœtus[18]
[6.]Flying Frog[19]
[7.]Flying Lizard (Draco)[20]
[8.]Birds in flight[22]
[9.]Flying Squirrel (Pteromys)[24]
[10.]Bats, flying and walking[25]
[11.]Skeleton of Pterodactylus longirostris[28]
[12.]The skeleton restored[29]
[13.]The animal form restored[30]
[14.]Fore limbs in four types of mammals[38]
[15.]Pneumatic foramen in Pterodactyle bone[46]
[16.]Lungs of the bird Apteryx[48]
[17.]Air cells in the body of an Ostrich[49]
[18.]Lung of a Chameleon[51]
[19.]Brain in Pterodactyle, Mammal, Bird, and Reptiles[53]
[20.]Skull of Kingfisher and Rhamphorhynchus[63]
[21.]Skull of Heron and Rhamphorhynchus[65]
[22.]Palate of Macrocercus and ? Campylognathus[71]
[23.]Lower jaw of Echidna and Ornithostoma[76]
[24.]First two neck vertebræ of Ornithocheirus[81]
[25.]Middle neck vertebræ of Ornithocheirus[83]
[26.]Back vertebra of Ornithocheirus and Crocodile[86]
[27.]Sacrum, with hip bones, of Rhamphorhynchus[88]
[28.]Extremity of tail of Rhamphorhynchus phyllurus[91]
[29.]Hip-girdle bones in Apteryx and Rhamphorhynchus[95]
[30.]Pelvis with prepubic bone in Pterodactylus[96]
[31.]Pelvis with prepubic bones in Rhamphorhynchus[97]
[32.]Pelvis of an Alligator seen from below[98]
[33.]Femora: Echidna, Ornithocheirus, Ursus[100]
[34.]Tibia and fibula: Dimorphodon and Vulture[102]
[35.]Metatarsus and digits in three Pterodactyles[104]
[36.]Sternum in Cormorant and Rhamphorhynchus[108]
[37.]Sternum in Ornithocheirus[109]
[38.]Shoulder-girdle bones in a bird and three Pterodactyles[113]
[39.]The Notarium from the back of Ornithocheirus[115]
[40.]The shoulder-girdle of Ornithocheirus[115]
[41.]Humerus of Pigeon and Ornithocheirus[119]
[42.]Fore-arm of Golden Eagle and Dimorphodon[120]
[43.]Wrist bones of Ornithocheirus[124]
[44.]Clawed digits of the hand in two Pterodactyles[125]
[45.]Claw from the hand of Ornithocheirus[129]
[46.]The hand in Archæopteryx and the Ostrich[130]
[48.]Slab of Lias with bones of DimorphodonTo face page [143]
[49.]Dimorphodon (restored form) at rest[144]
[50.]Dimorphodon (restored form of the animal)To face page [145]
[51.]Dimorphodon skeleton, walking as a quadrupedTo face page [146]
[52.]Dimorphodon skeleton as a bipedTo face page [147]
[53.]Lower jaw of Dorygnathus[149]
[54.]Dimorphodon (wing membranes spread for flight)To face page [150]
[55.]Pelvis of Dimorphodon[151]
[56.]Rhamphorhynchus skeleton (restored)[161]
[57.]Scaphognathus (restoration of 1875)[163]
[58.]Six restorations of Ornithosaurs[164]
[59.]Ptenodracon skeleton (restored)[167]
[60.]Cycnorhamphus suevicus slab with bonesTo face page [168]
[61.]Cycnorhamphus suevicus (form of the animal)To face page [169]
[62.]Cycnorhamphus suevicus skeleton (restored)[170]
[63.]Cycnorhamphus Fraasi (restored skeleton form of the animal)To face page [170]
[64.]Cycnorhamphus Fraasi (restoration of the form of the body)To face page [171]
[65.]Neck vertebra of Doratorhynchus from the Purbeck[173]
[66.]Neck bone of Ornithodesmus from the Wealden[173]
[67.]Sternum of Ornithodesmus, seen from the front[175]
[68.]Sternum of Ornithodesmus, side view, showing the keel[175]
[69.]Diagram of known parts of skull of Ornithocheirus[177]
[70.]Neck bone of Ornithocheirus[179]
[71.]Jaws of Ornithocheirus from the Chalk[180]
[72.]Palate of the English Toothless Pterodactyle[181]
[73.]Two views of the skull of Ornithostoma (Pteranodon)[182]
[74.]Skeleton of Ornithostoma[183]
[75.]Comparison of six skulls of Ornithosaurs[192]
[76.]Pelvis of Ornithostoma[195]
[77.]Skull of Anchisaurus and Dimorphodon[199]
[78.]Skull of Ornithosuchus and Dimorphodon[201]
[79.]The pelvis in Ornithosaur and Dinosaur[204]
[80.]The prepubic bones in Dimorphodon and Iguanodon[206]

These figures are greatly reduced in size, and when two or more bones are shown in the same figure all are brought to the same size to facilitate the comparison.

DRAGONS OF THE AIR

CHAPTER I
FLYING REPTILES

The history of life on the earth during the epochs of geological time unfolds no more wonderful discovery among types of animals which have become extinct than the family of fossils known as flying reptiles. Its coming into existence, its structure, and passing away from the living world are among the great mysteries of Nature.

The animals are astonishing in their plan of construction. In aspect they are unlike birds and beasts which, in this age, hover over land and sea. They gather into themselves in the body of a single individual, structures which, at the present day, are among the most distinctive characters of certain mammals, birds, and reptiles.

The name "flying reptile" expresses this anomaly. Its invention is due to the genius of the great French naturalist Cuvier, who was the first to realise that this extinct animal, entombed in slabs of stone, is one of the wonders of the world.