DINOSAURS 175 



were able in these and other ways to imitate the mammals of 

 to-day, or of yesterday, why should they not have been able to 

 go a few steps further, and actually become mammals ? " The 

 Evolutionist, if confronted with such a question, would say, 

 that there is no evidence of Dinosaurs turning into mammals, 

 but that both may have branched off at an early geological 

 period (say the Permian) from a primitive group of reptiles, or 

 even of amphibians. 



It must be borne in mind that, during the " age of reptiles " 

 ( Mesozoic period), the mammalian type was but feebly represented 

 by certain small and humble forms, probably marsupials. As far 

 as we know, there were no big quadrupeds such as flourish to-day ; 

 therefore reptiles played their part, and in so doing acquired 

 some of their habits and structural peculiarities. It is difficult 

 for us, living in an age of quadrupeds, to realise this, and to 

 picture to ourselves reptilian types posing as " lords of creation," 

 or, to use a homely phrase, " strutting in peacock's feathers." 



"We now pass on to describe two of the strangest and most 

 wonderful of all the Dinosaurs, recently discovered in the far 

 West. The first of these is the Stegosaurus, 1 or plated lizard, 

 not wholly unknown before, because part of its skeleton was 

 found some years ago in a brickfield in the Kimmeridge Clay 

 at Swindon. It has been proved that some of the bones to which 

 the name Omosaurus 2 has been applied really belonged to the 

 former genus. 



With such complete specimens now known by Professor 

 Marsh's descriptions, it will not be necessary to mention the 

 meagre remains discovered in this country, or the conclusions 

 arrived at by Owen and Seeley, interesting as they are. 



1 Greek stegos, roof of covering ; sauros, lizard. 



2 Greek omos, humerus, and sauros^ lizard. 



