The treasury of natural history, or, A popular dictionary of zoology / by Samuel Maunder.

  • Maunder, Samuel, 1785-1849.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treasury of natural history, or, A popular dictionary of zoology / by Samuel Maunder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    799/856 (page 777)
    Professor. The Mylodon, though not so large as the great terrestrial .Megatherium, was nevertheless a formidable creature, measur- ing at least eleven feet from the point of the muzzle to the end of tiie tail. Structurally it was closely allied to the sloths of the pre- sent day, and like them obtained its living by devouring the leaves of trees, which latter, however, it did not ascend, but rased to the ground by its prodigious strength. [For osteological and other details, see Mr- lodon, at p. 443.] NOTHOSAURUS. A genus of gigantic sauropterygian reptiles or fin-lizards, whose skeletal remains are very abundant in the muschelk&lk formation of Bayreuth and Luueville. The species of this genus, as ir. the more familiarly known and allied Plesiosaurus, appear to have been very numerous, for at least seven of the former hate been indicated by the writings of Von Meyer and Munster, whilst Prof. Owen states that he has described, or otherwise l>ecome acquainted with, upwards of twenty distinct forms of Plesiosaur. Considering the formidable prehensile and offensive arma- ture of their jaws,one can readily understand what an enormous destruction of life took place at the commencement of the mesosoic or secondary geological epoch, when multi- tudes of these creatures preyed upon the co- existing fishes and amphibia of the triassic and liassic period. The Nothosaurs were furnished with extended massive heads, and numerous large, sharp, conical teeth, most of them being provided with long necks like those of the Plesiosaur. In regard to their natatory organs of locomotion. Prof. Owen informs us that “the bones of the limbs, al- i though evidently those of fins or paddle- shaped extremities, are better developed than in Plesiosaurus, and more resemble the corres|»onding hones in the turtle (Che- lones). The tuberosities or processes for muscular attachment near the head of the humerus are lietter marked, especially that on the concave side of the shaft; the distal end is thicker and less expanded. The whole bone is more curved than in any Plesiosauri. | The femur is relatively longer and less ex- panded at its distnl end. The bones of the forearm, like those of the leg, are longer thun in Plesiosaurus. The articular surfaces present the foramina with raised borders, which characterise those in Plesiosauri, and which indicate the tibro-cartilagiuous nature of the joints.” One species of this genus has been found in the grfcs-bizarre de- posits of the lower trias at Soulz-les-Bains. It is described by Yon Meyer under the title of N. Schimperi. NOTORNIS. A curious genus of birds, closely allied to the Gallinules and Water- hens. It was founded by Professor Owen for the reception of some bones sent from New Zealand in a fossil state, and found along with those of the Dinornis. From its osteological characters, the Hunterian Pro- fessor inferred that the bird must hare been a large modified form of the same natural family of Grallatorial birds as the Porphyrio or Purple Hen ; but, from the structure of the sternum, without the power of flight. Three years after, a specimen of the bird was taken alive in a remote part of the South Island of New Zealand ; and this specimen, which is still unique, and seems likely to remain so, was sent to Dr. Mantell, and, after his death, passed into the noble collection of birds in the British Museum. The 1Votornis Mantellii was known to the natives of New Zealand by the name of Moho ; and even now it is called by the settlers “ Mountain- Maid. At one time it seems to have been ubundant, and to have supplied to the in- habitants, ere Cook visited the islands, a fa- vourite article of food. Partly front this cause, but also in some measure from the persecuting attacks of wild cats and dogs, it 6eems to be a species on the very verge of being exterminated. The specimen in the Museum was caught by some men engaged in the pursuit of seals, as they were searching the coasts for them and other game. These men observed the traces of a large bird on the snow; and after following the foot-tracks for a considerable distance, came upon the j bird, which ran with great speed, and was taken alive. It screamed loud, and fought and struggled violently. The body was eaten by the crew of the schooner, and was said to be delicious. The bird is about two feet high, has a short strong beak, which, with the legs, is of a bright scarlet colour. The neck and body are of a dark purple colour, the wings \ and back being shot with green and gold. | The tail is while beneath, and the wiugs are feeble in structure and plumage. NOTOTIIERIUM. A genus originally founded by Prof. Owen to indicate the characters of a large extinct herbivorous marsupial mammal lN. Mitchelli), and also agreeing with a second species, whose skeletal remains have been found in the pleistocene lacustrine deposits at King’s Creek, Darling Downs, Australia. The last- uuiried species was first noticed by Mr. Maclean, under the title of Zyuomaturus triloba*. Structurally speaking, the Notothe- ria appear to have resembled the Kangaroos, and at the same time to have upprouched the singular existing /’lioscolurctus or Koala.