Various

“ But one species has been described from the American Cretaceous smaller than the present one, Pteranodon nanus Marsh, in which the expanse of wings is given as not more than three or four feet. In this estimate the author is certainly in error. The size of the humerus, as given, is rather more than three-fourths that of the present species, and the expanse, hence, must be nearly five feet in life, or six feet as the bones lie outstretched. ”

“ In Pteranodon there are at least four vertebrae with dia- and parapophyses. In the other vertebrae from this region the diapophyses are yet shorter and the neural spine stouter and broader. The other centra preserved are all shaped somewhat like the half of a cylinder, and are a little longer than broad. They have no distinct cup or ball. In two of them there is a very long, recurved parapophysial process, as though formed by an anchylosed rib, on each side; they are probably lumbar vertebrae.
Most of the ribs are very slender; a few are moderately thickened; one only is very stout ”

“ It is usually the case in the Kansas specimens of both genera that the neural arch of the post-cervical vertebrae is wholly or in part detached from the centrum, showing a [9] sutural, and not anchylosed union in life. The centra of twelve vertebrae are preserved, in the present specimen, from the region back of the neck; in only five of them are the neural arches in any way attached. Three of these are evidently anterior thoracic, judging from their structure and the position in which they lie. ”

“ That the eighth vertebra is a thoracic one is shown by the relation of the ribs in this specimen. Posteriorly there is no distinction, also, between the true thoracic vertebrae and those of the lumbar region. All the vertebrae anterior to the pelvis bear ribs, and will all be considered as dorsal vertebrae, the true thoracic vertebrae being restricted to those of which the ribs are elongated, and, probably, connected with the sternum. ”

“ The scapula is of nearly the same length as the coracoid, but is much less stout. It is a thin, spatulate bone, slightly expanded at the distal extremity, where the margin is rounded, and without the characteristic oblique articular facet. It has no supra-glenoid expansion or process on the posterior proximal border, but has its margin nearly straight or gently concave from the articulation to its extremity. The space included between the bones of the two sides as they lie is a nearly regular, oval one, measuring ninety-five millimeters in its greater, forty-five in its lesser diameter. ”

“ The principal dimensions of this species can be got at with considerable certainty. Although two of the wing-phalanges and the bones of the foot are wanting, yet the relative proportions of those present agree so closely with those of the corresponding bones in Pteranodon, that there can be but little possibility of error in assuming the same proportions for the missing ones. The position of the ilium and femur, as also the ribs, show that they hold their natural relations to the pectoral arch. The tail, alone, can not be got at. ”

“ Assuming that there was the same number of precaudal vertebrae as in C. velox, the entire vertebral column would have measured in life fifteen feet and four inches. The lower jaw shows the skull to have been very nearly twenty-four inches in length, making, for the animal when alive, a length of seventeen and one-half feet. This is one of the largest species, and it is interesting to observe that the real size here, as usually elsewhere among fossil vertebrates, is less than supposed. It is doubtful whether there is a Clidastes known that exceeded twenty feet in length. ”

“ The bones uncovered, and now lying upon the chalk slab nearly in their natural relations, are a humerus, both radii and ulnae, a pteroid, the two carpals of one wrist, both wing metacarpals, a first and a last wing phalanx, both coraco-scapulae, the posterior part of the lower jaws, ilium, femur, sternum, numerous ribs and vertebrae. The two coraco-scapulae lie with their scapular ends nearly touching, and their coracoid ends separated by a space equivalent to the width of the sternal articulation. ”

“ The imperfectly anchylosed, possibly free, atlas shows three pieces, the odontoid process and the two slender lateral pieces. The lateral pieces are entirely free, with a thickened base and a slender, curved upper portion. The odontoid is gently concave in front, and seems to be imperfectly ossified with the axis; it occupies the lower part of the articulation, corresponding to the hypapophysis of the Pythonomorpha. The axis is the shortest of the remaining vertebrae, and has a well developed spine. The centrum is strongly convex behind, as are the remaining centra of the series. ”

“ One of the smallest American species yet found is represented in the Yale Museum by several bones of the wing, a number of vertebrae and the nearly complete pelvis. The wing-bones preserved are elongated and very slender. The pelvis is unusually small, and there are five vertebrae in the sacrum. The last of the series indicates that the tail was short. The following are the principal measurements of this specimen:
This species, which may be called Pteranodon gracilis, was about two-thirds the size of P. velox Marsh. ”

“ The left humerus lies in position, and is especially characterized by its enormous deltoid crest (radial crest of Marsh) , though otherwise slender. This crest is further removed from the head of the bone than is the case in species of Pteranodon. It is directed somewhat downward, and has its distal, gently convex, border about twenty-five millimeters in extent, while the width of the process midway between the extremity and the base measures but sixteen millimeters. The bicipital crest is also prominent. The bone is relatively shorter than in Pteranodon. ”

“ Thorax black, opaque; near the humeri and behind, as also on the scutellum, thickly golden pollinose; pleurae diffusely pollinose. Abdomen opaque black; the hind margin of the first three segments, and the remainder of the abdomen, save spots on the sides of the fourth and fifth segments, thickly light golden pollinose. Legs reddish brown, the base of the tibiae and the basal joints of the tarsi yellowish. The brown of the wings extends to the third vein and through the middle of the first posterior cell; costal and subcostal cells lighter colored. ”

“ The only distinctive character the author gave for his genus was the insertion of the pterygoid teeth, and even this character he modified later—“Palatine (sic) teeth more or less pleurodont.” [6]
This character, even were it real, is of very slight value; indeed it cannot be used to distinguish the species even.
Clidastes is, without doubt, one of the most highly specialized genera in the group, and, what is very interesting, is one of the latest. It occurs in Kansas in the uppermost part of the Niobrara beds, in the horizon so markedly characterized by the toothed birds. ”

“ Callicera is a small genus hitherto supposed to be peculiar to Europe. The species are found in the high mountains, where the males are often taken while hovering in the air. The present collection includes numerous specimens of a species taken near the summit of Mt. Deception, in Manitou Park, Colorado, at an altitude of nine thousand feet. ”

“ The transverse processes decrease gradually in length, disappearing entirely in the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth. The spinous processes are more or less incompletely preserved in the anterior vertebrae. They increase only gradually in length for the first twenty of the series, and are markedly oblique, with the posterior border stout, and the anterior border alate. With the twenty-sixth they begin to increase more rapidly in length, and have become more nearly vertical in position, and are thinner at each margin. ”

“ The bone is very thin throughout, with a slight thickening at the ischial (a) attachment only. Lying contiguous with the anterior projection, is a slender ventral rib (b) . It is possible that the curvature of this bone may be inward, rather than outward.
FIG. 1.
[5] This peculiar structure of the pubis (I believe it represents the pubis, and not the prepubis) , seems to be quite similar to that which obtains in the genus Rhamphorhynchus, and, perhaps also, in Pterodactylus suevicus (Cycnorhamphus Seeley) , and very different from that found in other species of Pterodactylus. ”

“ Antennae black; the reddish first joint about two-thirds the length of the third joint; the third joint about two-thirds of the length of the slender second joint; third joint of the style with a short bristly extremity. Thorax black, lightly pollinose, opaque; on the front margin, and near the humeri, velvety; in the middle in front distinctly whitish when seen from behind. Abdomen black, subshining; second segment deep opaque black, save on the anterior part, where it is whitish pollinose; ventral process of the fifth segment small. Legs black ”

“ Two specimens from Colorado undoubtedly come here. The species was described from a single male specimen. A female specimen offers the following differences or additions: Length nine millimeters, mesonotum more greenish black or bronze, the pile obscure whitish; fifth abdominal segment without yellow spots on the anterior angles; legs yellow, with the basal half of the front and middle femora, the hind femora except the tip, a broad band on the hind tibiae, and the hind tarsi, black. ”

“ Eyes hairy, holoptic in the male. Abdomen elliptical, as long or longer than the thorax. Legs moderately strong. Third longitudinal vein straight, first posterior cell distally short petiolate; marginal cell open; cross-vein situated near the middle of the discal cell, oblique.
Callicera montensis, n. sp., Plate vii, f. 4.
Male. Black, densely golden red pilose. Frontal triangle, face and cheeks deep black, shining, covered thickly with black pile, save a median facial stripe. Antennae black, basal third of third joint on the under side red ”

“ As I am aware of no description of the earlier stages of this species, I record the following notes of description:
Egg. About 1-1.2 millimeters in diameter, surface with broad, meridian-like furrows from one pole for about one-third of the distance to the other pole. Color, creamy white. [40]
Larva. Food plant, Opuntia missouriensis, prickly pear cactus, burrowing into the fleshy leaves and eating the soft, succulent, inner tissues. Length, 40 millimeters. Five pairs of prolegs. Color, one specimen, ultramarine blue; skin, semi-transparent and shining anteriorly, dead blue on dorsum ”

“ Legs deep brown; the base of all the tibiae, the large pulvilli, and the claws (except their tips) yellow.
Length 12 millimeters. One specimen, Chapada, H. H. Smith. This species is peculiar in its narrow front, bristles of the thorax, and hyaline first posterior cell.
5. Conops nobilis, n. sp.
Female. Head black; front, below the vertical callosity, except a crescentic space above the base of the antennae, opaque; face, on the sides and in the depression, with a conspicuous, light yellowish silvery reflection; in an oblique light from above the ground-color wholly concealed. ”

“ Pteranodon velox. Pterodactylus velox Marsh, Amer. Journ. Sci. iii, p. 247, April 1872, Sep. p. 8.
Based upon the distal end of the right metacarpal of the wing-finger, and the proximal extremity of the adjoining first phalanx, two uncharacteristic parts of the skeleton, Marsh to the contrary notwithstanding. It is doubtful whether the direct comparison of the types will suffice to determine the species with certainty. “Both of the bones are somewhat distorted by pressure.”
Pteranodon longiceps. Pteranodon longiceps Marsh, Amer. Journ. Sci. ”