File:Image from page 32 of "Water reptiles of the past and present" (1914) (14769798041).jpg

Identifier: waterreptilesofp1914will Title: Water reptiles of the past and present Year: 1914 (1910s) Authors: Williston, Samuel Wendell, 1851-1918 Subjects: Aquatic reptiles Publisher: Chicago, Ill., The University of Chicago Press Contributing Library: Boston Public Library Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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Text Appearing Before Image: t so well adapted for specialfunctions. In a word, the skeleton of areptile for the mcst part is generalized,though particular parts may be highlyspecialized for particular uses. As a rule,if not as a law, the course of evolutionhas been to reduce the number of partsand to adapt those which remain more THE SKELETON OF REPTILES 21 closely to their special uses, either by increase in size, or by modifi-cations of their shape and structure. SKULL AND TEETH The skull of reptiles is much more primitive or generalized instructure than is that of mammals, to such an extent, indeed, thatthere is yet much doubt as to the precise homologies of some of thebones composing it; and, inasmuch as the names were originallygiven, for the most part, to the bones of the human skull, there isstill some confusion among students as to the proper names in all cases, a confusion that doubt-less will not be wholly dissipateduntil we know much more aboutthe early or more primitivereptiles than we do at present.

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