xvi INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY 



of Mr. Hiitchinsoiis ''Extinct Monsters" arid 

 " Creatures of Other Days,'' hut it is hoped that 

 it may be considered with books as with boats, 

 a good plan to build after a good model. The 

 information scattered through these pages has 

 been derived from varied sources ; some has of 

 necessity been taken from standard books, a 

 part has been gathered in the course of museum 

 wo?^k and official correspondence ; for much, the 

 author is indebted to his persojial fiends, and 

 for a part, he is under obligations to friends he 

 has never met, who have kindly responded to his 

 inquiries. The endeavor has been conscientiously 

 made to exclude cdl misinformation; it is, nevei^- 

 theless, entirely probable that some mistakes may 

 have crept in, and due apology for these is here- 

 by made beforehand. 



The author expects to be taken to task for 

 the use of scientific names, and the reader may 

 perhaps sympathize with the old lady ivho said 

 that the discovei^y of cdl these strange animals 

 did not surprise her so much as the fact that 

 anyone should knoxv their names when they were 

 found. The real trouble is that there are no 

 common names for these animals. Then, too. 



