230 NATURAL SCIENCE [October 
to be hoped that further excavations will lead to the discovery of 
other bones, and particularly of the skull. The parts at present 
known indicate the existence of a dinosaurian reptile which seems to 
be closely related to the American genus Diplodocus and, to the well- 
known Cetiosaurus and Ornithopsis of this country. In fact it is 
possible that it will be found that all these genera are almost 
identical. 
THE EXHIBITION OF EXTINCT VERTEBRATES 
From the Annual Report of the American Museum for 1897 we 
learn a good deal as to the methods employed for familiarising the 
public with the skeletons and external forms of the great extinct 
vertebrata. In this Report attention is especially called by means 
of photographs to a skeleton of an Upper Miocene Rhinoceros, in 
which the perfection of the beautiful methods employed by Mr 
Adam Hermann are well seen. The entire skeleton is supported by 
steel rods which pass through the centre of the bones, only the two 
main supports being visible. This gives a very striking effect, and 
seems a desirable method, provided the bones themselves are dupli- 
cates and not types. We are of the opinion, however, that dupli- 
cates and only duplicates should thus be treated, and consider that 
described or figured specimens, or unique things, should never be 
sacrificed, for when once a bone is pierced and mounted it is inacces- 
sible to the student, to whom it is of far more importance than the 
general public, who are quite satisfied with a plaster cast to look at. 
The plasterotheria of our museums are admirable as teaching objects, 
but the anatomist wants to handle and examine the real bone, and 
such should never be maltreated in any way. The mount of 
Phenacodus in the American Museum is an admirable example of 
what we mean, for there every bone can be removed for purposes 
of study. Among the plaster reproductions of external forms of 
animals this Report illustrates Agathaumus, Hadrosaurus, Naosaurus, 
and a highly amusing representation of a combat for the diamond 
belt between J.L.—we beg pardon—Megalosaurus (Laelaps, Drypto- 
saurus) aguilunguis and another of its kind, which is very real, and 
would, could it possibly be seen at the Aquarium, draw immense 
houses. The attitude of defence of the recumbent dinosaur is very 
striking, and the terrific lunge possible of the hind legs might fairly 
convert the attacking creature into a constellation. 
CRETACEOUS Rocks IN WEST GREENLAND 
Davip WHITE and Charles Schuchert accompanied the Peary Arctic 
Expedition of 1897 to the Nugsuak peninsula, West Greenland. 
They have now published a paper describing the Cretaceous series 
of that locality (Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., ix., pp. 843-368, pls. xxiv.- 
