HABITS OF THE PLESIOSAURUS.

307

"I think not: and if ever they came into contact as enemies, I should imagine the plesiosaurus would find itself overmatched; though some have supposed its long, flexible neck might compensate, in point of activity, for the general unwieldiness of its form. This has been thought to have borne a great resemblance to the figure of the sea-turtle, supposing that animal to be stripped of its shelly covering; and, like the turtle, it may have occasionally visited the coast, though its motions on land must have been exceedingly awkward. Neither was it so well fitted for swimming as the icthyosaurus. Mr. Conybeare is of opinion, that as it breathed the air, and had frequent need of respiration, it probably swam on, or near, the surface of the water, arching back its long neck like the swan, and occasionally plunging it downwards to seize the fishes that swam within its reach. He also thinks it may have lurked in ambush among the weeds in the shallow water near the coasts, where, raising its nostrils to the surface like the cayman, it might find a secure retreat from its enemies, or dart unexpectedly upon its prey. The length and flexibility of its neck well fitting it for sudden attack upon unwary passers by, it must have proved

a formidable foe to animals less powerful than itself."

"I can easily imagine it," said Harry. "The creature looks just fit to catch its prey in that manner. But if Miss Anning had not discovered the whole skeleton, I should have taken this picture for a work of imagination. How curious, that she should find both this monster and the fishlizard!"

"It is certainly uncommon to hear of a lady engaging in such a fatiguing, hazardous pursuit ; and I think few would be found willing to undertake a personal examination of the cliffs, especially in the depth of winter. It was in January, 1824, that she discovered the skeleton of the plesiosaurus, which I have already described. In February, 1829, she found another, considerably larger, and in still better preservation. This specimen exhibits the same peculiarities of form; and it seems quite certain that, in the living state, the plesiosaurus, according to our usual acceptation of the word, must have been truly a monster, uniting the long, pliant neck of a serpent, to a body not differing much in its proportions from those of a common quadruped, but supported by limbs re

1 Supplement to Cuvier, p. 376, &c.

PECULIARITIES OF STRUCTURE.

309

sembling the fins or paddles of the cetaceous or whale-like fishes." 1

"What a curious compound of serpent, beast, and fish! You said that the last-found skeleton was the largest; but I think you have not mentioned the exact size of either, or how the animal may compare, in that particular, with the fishlizard."

"One of the skeletons was nine feet six inches long the other was eleven feet. But the creature would not appear so large as we might expect on hearing the length mentioned, on account of the disproportion of its parts. The head is extremely small even that of the largest does not seem to have been more than three inches wide; and the neck was as long as the body and tail together. Strange as these proportions seem, they were doubtless well adapted to the habits of the animal, and I think the suppositions of Mr. Conybeare respecting them appear very probable; however, it seems that he was indebted for the opportunity of exercising his sagacity on the subject to the researches of the adventurous Miss Anning."

"No doubt," said Harry, "the habits of the creature must have been very much influenced by

1 Ibid. p. 377 and 370.

P

that amazing neck; and if Conybeare had ventured to construct such a thing from the detached bones he found at Bristol, people would only have laughed at him; however, the fact cannot be disputed, after Miss Anning's discovery. Only think of her having the good fortune to find four skeletons! And how astonishing that these animals, after being buried in the earth for thousands and thousands of years, should be brought to light again in a state enabling naturalists to form a probable judgment of their habits and characters! I like such facts as these, mamma; especially the eye of the fish-lizard, like that of a bird of preythe intention of it seems so evident. I wish you would tell me some other instances of the same kind."

“You mean, I suppose, examples in which the habits of animals are indicated by their structure. Well, I dare say you recollect the terror Robinson Crusoe felt when he saw the impression of a man's foot on the sand. Had he seen the mark of a large round foot, armed with sharp claws, he might also have been terrified; but had the print been that of a cloven foot, he need not have entertained any fears for his personal safety. He might have been certain that the animal which had left such an