I. On the classification of the fossil animals commonly named Dinosauria

Abstract

Three classifications of the Dinosauria have been proposed, which differ from each other in the principles on which their authors proposed to make the divisions. First in time is Professor Cope’s classification (‘Philadelphia, Acad. Nat. Sci. Proc.,’ November 13th, 1866, and December 31st, 1867; ‘Amer. Phil. Soc. Trans.,’ vol. 14, Part I). He relied upon the characters of the tarsus and the ilium; and on their varied condition divided Dinosaurs into three orders named Orthopoda, Goniopoda, and Symphopoda. In the Orthopoda , the generic types associated are Scelidosaurus, Hylæosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hadrosaurus. And in this group the relations of the tibia and fibula are compared to those of modern Lizards, the proximal tarsals being distinct from each other and from the tibia. The ilium has a narrowed anterior prolongation.