122 Kansas Academy of Science. 



SOME ANIMALS DISCOVERED IN THE FOSSIL BEDS 

 OF KANSAS. 



By Charles H. Sternberg, Lawrence, Kan. 



Tj^OR many years past the writer of this paper has given his en- 

 -■- tire time to the collection and preparation for exhibit of fossils 

 from several Western states, giving much time to the rich fields of 

 western Kansas, so prolific in fine examples of ancient vertebrate 

 life. Some mention of some of the best finds made within the 

 last few years and where these have gone, many being lost forever 

 for any Kansas museum, is worthy of record. 



A complete skeleton of a new plesiosaur was found by the writer's 

 son on the Hathaway ranch, on Beaver creek, Logan county, and 

 which is now in the museum of the University of Kansas, having 

 been mounted by the very competent preparator, Mr. H. T. Martin. 



A nearly complete skeleton of Portheus colossus, of Cope, col- 

 lected on Robinson's cattle ranch, in Logan county, within a stone's 

 throw of the stable, is now mounted in the American Museum, at 

 New York, and is said to be the best example of a fossil fish in any 

 museum in the world. 



There have also been sent to this museum from the Kansas fields 

 eight other splendid specimens, including a very fine skull of the 

 great ram-nosed Tylosaurus and the skeleton of a smaller form of 

 Portheus. This has enabled that museum to restore and mount a 

 nearly complete skeleton procured some years ago from Mr. W. O. 

 Bourne, of Scott City, Kan., in which the head was distorted. This 

 fine skull was found on Butte creek, 100 feet above where the writer 

 had previously, in 1881, found as good a one, which is now in the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology, at Cambridge, Mass. 



To Vassar College was sent a fine skeleton of Clidastes and also 

 one of Platecarpus, both from Logan county. 



To the Carnegie Museum, at Pittsburg, Pa., much material has 

 been sent, including the most complete skeleton of Protostega ever 

 found in the Kansas chalk-beds. This great turtle measured ten 

 feet between the front paddles. There was also sent this museum 

 a fine skeleton of the great predaceous fish, Portheus colossus. 



To the British Museum has gone quite a collection, including 

 a nearly complete skeleton of the great broad-handed lizard, Plate- 

 carpus co7"yphmus, Si nearly complete skeleton of a Pteranodon, with 

 the best skull that the writer has ever collected. There was also 



