234 A CENTURY OF SCIENCE 



tute what is possibly the greatest collection of fossil 

 vertebrates in America, if not in the world ; individually, 

 they are second only to that of the American Museum in 

 New York City, the result of the combined labors of 

 Osborn and Cope and their very able corps of assistants. 



As a scientist Marsh possessed in large measure that 

 wide knowledge of comparative anatomy so necessary to 

 the vertebrate paleontologist, and as a consequence was 

 not only able to recognize affinities and classify unerr- 

 ingly, but also to recognize the salient diagnostic fea- 

 tures of the form before him and in few words so to 

 describe them as to render the recognition of the species 

 by another worker relatively easy. The publication of 

 hundreds of these specific diagnoses in the Journal con- 

 stitutes a very large and valuable part of that periodi- 

 cal's contribution to the advancement of our science. 

 Marsh's method of indicating forms by so brief a state- 

 ment leaves much to be done, however, in the way of 

 further description of his types, which in many instances 

 were but partially prepared. 



Yet another important service which Marsh rendered 

 to science was the restoration of the creatures as a whole, 

 made with the most painstaking care and precision 

 through assembling the drawings of the individual bones. 

 These restorations have become classic, embracing as they 

 did a score or more of forms, of beast, bird, and reptile. 

 They also were published first in the Journal, although 

 they have subsequently been reproduced in text-books 

 and other works the world over. Part of Marsh's popu- 

 lar reputation, at least, which was second to that of no 

 other American in his line, was due to his skill in 

 attaining publicity, for his papers, of whatever extent, 

 were carefully and methodically sent to correspondents 

 in the uttermost parts of the earth, and thus the Marsh 

 collection has reflected the fame of its maker. 



Edward Drinker Cope (1840-1897). 



The third great name in American vertebrate paleon- 

 tology, that of Edward Drinker Cope, stands out in sharp 

 contrast with the other two, although in the range of his 

 interests he was probably more nearly comparable with 



