78 



EXTINCT MONSTERS. 



restoration, but these have since been rectified by a comparison 

 with the alhed American forms, such as AUosaurus, of which nearly 

 entire skeletons have of late been discovered in strata of Jurassic 

 age — in fact, the same rock in Colorado as that in which the huge 

 Atlantosaurus bones lay hid. The accompanying woodcut (Fig. 

 13) shows how the skeleton has been restored in the light of 

 these later discoveries of Professor Marsh. The large bones of 

 the limbs of these formidable flesh-eating monsters were hollow, 

 and many of the vertebrce, as well as some of those of the feet. 



f^^^jgafvytiLi * 



Fig. 13. — Skeleton of Megalosaurus, restored. (After Meyer.) 



contained cavities, or were otherwise lightened in order to give 

 the creature a greater power of rapid movement. 



It is not very difficult to imagine a Megalosaur lying in wait for 

 his prey (perhaps a slender, harmless little mammal of the ant- 

 eater type) with his hind limbs bent under his body, so as to bring 

 the heels to the ground, and then with one terrific bound from 

 those long legs springing on to the prey, and holding the mammal 

 tight in its clawed fore limbs, as a cat might hold a mouse. Then 

 the sabre-like teeth would be brought into action by the powerful 

 jaws, and soon the flesh and bones of the victim would be gone ! 

 (See Plate VI.) 



