NO. 2127. OSTEOLOGY OF TEE8CEL0SAVRU8—0ILM0RE. 611 



From the erideiice of this specimen there were at least four tho- 

 racic ribs joined to the sternum by cartilaginous ribs. Counting 

 from the sacrum, these ribs articulated with the thirteenth, four- 

 teenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth presacral vertebrae. 



The sternal ribs are not fully ossified, and on that account are very 

 spongy and without well-finished surfaces. 



Preservation of the epidermis. — External to the ribs and posterior 

 to the blade of the scapula of the left side a small dark-colored area 

 was found, which is thought to represent a portion of the carbonized 

 epidermal covering of the animal. A second patch was found along 

 the outer side of the anterior thoracic vertebrae, as shown in Plate 79. 

 It presents a punctured surface, but there is no indication of a regular 

 pattern and no evidence of dermal ossifications, though Nopcsa ^ has 

 reported the presence of thin ossifications with the remains of Hypsi- 

 lophodon that are regarded by him as pertaining to the skin. 



POSITION OF THE SKELETON. 



When the skeleton was discovered the skull, neck, and portions of 

 the pectoral arch had been eroded away, but it appears most prob- 

 able that all of these missing parts were present when the animal was 

 first entombed. The skeleton as now exhibited (see Plate 79) lies on 

 its left side in approximately the same position as when first dis- 

 covered, with nearly all of the bones articulated. The right hind 

 limb, when found, was disarticulated at the hip, and extended out 

 above the sacrum at right angles to the longer axis of the skeleton. 

 It was deemed expedient to properly articulate this leg, and this has 

 been done, as shown in Plate 79, the original angulation of the limb 

 and foot bemg preserved undisturbed. The contact for the block 

 of matrix containing the right fore leg and foot was lost, so that it 

 was arbitrarily placed as here shown. With these two exceptions all 

 other parts of the skeleton are as found. 



A few of the missing portions, as the ends of ribs, limb, and pelvic 

 bones and parts of a few vertebrae, have been restored, and following 

 the usual procedure these restored portions are painted a light color, 

 thus making them easily distinguished from the fossil parts. At 

 this time (November, 1915) the skull of this animal is unknown, and 

 on that account no attempt has been made to restore it in the pre- 

 pared specimen. 



The position of the skeleton is that of an animal having died a 

 natural death, for the skeleton has not been dismembered by being 

 preyed upon. The distended ribs indicate a rapid filling of the 

 thoracic cavity after death, and this quick covering of the entire 

 skeleton would undoubtedly account for the excellent preservation 

 of the specimen. 



» Geol. Mag., vol. 2, 1905, p. 205. 



