Palaeontological memoirs and notes of H. Falconer, with a biographical sketch of the author (1868) (14749758456)

Identifier: palaeontological01falc (find matches)

Title: Palaeontological memoirs and notes of H. Falconer, with a biographical sketch of the author

Year: 1868 (1860s)

Authors: Falconer, Hugh

Subjects:

Publisher: London

Contributing Library: Natural History Museum Library, London

Digitizing Sponsor: Natural History Museum Library, London

Text Appearing Before Image:

ll of which bear the closest resem-blance to the ordinary type of the Chersite Chelonians, or See note, p. 363.—(Ed.) DESCEIPTION OF PLATE XXX. COLOSSOCHELTS AtLAS. The figures in this Plate have been drawn by Mr. Dinkelfrom the original specimens in the British Museum. Fig. 1. The bifid episterniim of Colossochehjs Atlas, seen from theunder surface, showing the thick cuneiform keel. The specimenhas been drawn one-sixth of the natural size, and bears thenumber 40,630 in the British Museum Catalogue. (See pages363, 374, & 378.) Fig. 2. Shows the xyphosternal or posterior portion of the plastronof Colossochehjs Atlas, one-sixth of the natural size. The pos-terior cleft is well seen. The specimen is numbered 40,629 inthe British Museum Catalogue. (See pages 363 & 378.) Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Represent three different views of one of the ungualbones of Colossochelys Atlas, drawn one-half of the natural size.Brit. Mus. Cat. No. 36,731. (See pages 364, 374 & 381.) Yoll. Pla±e 30.

Text Appearing After Image:

J.ESnkc; del eL.litK Golossoclielys Atlas. W.TWest i TTTip . COLOSSOCHELYS ATLAS. 365 true land-tortoises. A like result followed the examinationof the extremities, which, as exhibited in the remains of thehumerus, femur, and ung-ual phalanges, were seen to be con-structed exactly on the plan of Testwdo, with columnar legsand truncated club-shaped feet, as in the proboscideanPachydermata. The same direction of aflB.nity was observedthroughout the confirmation of the head. The only portionsof the skeleton from which more or less direct evidence wasnot derived were the neck and tail vertebi-se, of which therewere no specimens in the collection. The general result ofthe examination showed that the Golossochelys Atlas wasstrictly a land-tortoise in every part of its bony frame; andthe impressions of the horny scutes proved the like in regardto the arrangement of its dermal integument. The principal distinctive characters were found in thesternum, which is enormously thickened at its anter

megalochelys fossils palaeontological memoirs and notes of h falconer with a biographical sketch of the author book illustrations natural history catalogs biography natural history museum images from internet archive

1868

Internet Archive

http://commons.wikimedia.org/

public domain