Symphypoda, Cope, 1867

Cope, E. D., 1869, Synopsis of the extinct Batrachia, Reptilia and Aves of North America, Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 11, pp. 1-252 : 120

SYMPHYPODA .

First series of tarsal bones confluent with each other, and with the tibia.* Fibula distally much reduced. Anterior part of ilium dilated, plate-like.

Genera Ornithotarsus, Cope. Compsognathus ; Wagner Abhandl. Mathem. Nat. Classe Miinchen Bd. IX.

The latter, says Gegenbaur, is the form among terrestrial Saurians nearest the birds, as Archaeopteryx is the avine type nearest the Saurians. From the upper Jurassic slates of Solenhofen. I add a few of its characters from Wagner.

Inner toe represented by a rudimental metatarsus. Whole foot a little larger than femur; humerus one-half femur. Of the only known species, C. gracilis, Wagner gives the following measurements; Length of head, 2 " 6 '" (French)of vertical column to opposite acetabulum, 10"; of anterior extremity, 4" 7"'of posterior, 9" 3"'.