GIANT REPTILES OF A PAST AGE. 



469 



anatomy of which is almost as well known as that of a dog or a 

 cat. This animal, the iguanodon, in the way it is mounted, 

 reaches a height of about fourteen feet, and a length of nearly 

 thirty feet. It also stands on the hind-legs, and is supported hy 

 the strong tail, which constitutes 

 about a third of the whole length. 

 The neck is erect, and the head 

 horizontal, as if the animal were 

 gazing forward. The short ante- 

 rior limbs, somewhat bent, are 

 hanging down. The hind-foot is 

 composed of three strong toes^ 

 armed with claws. The fore -feet 

 have a long and strong spine where 

 we have the thumb. The name of 

 the animal has been chosen on ac- 

 count of its teeth, 

 which resemble re- 

 markably those of 

 the Brazilian lizard, 

 iguana, and indicate 

 that the iguanodon 

 was no carnivore, 

 but a herbivorous 



animal. It is thought that this animal lived in swamps or on the 

 banks of rivers. It is further believed that it walked on its hind- 

 legs, and that it treated its assailants in the way of a bear, by em- 

 bracing them with its short and strong fore-legs, and piercing them 

 by the dagger-like spines of the fore-feet. 



