58 Life of a Fossil Hunter 



removed by previous explorers. The fish was pur- 

 chased by the Museum in 1901, and mounted and 

 partly restored, under the direction of the writer, 

 by Adam Hermann, with the able assistance of Mr. 

 A. E. Anderson. Total length, from tip of tail to 

 a point directly above premaxillaries, 15 feet, 8 

 inches. Length of skull, 2 feet, 2 inches. Spread 

 of tail, 3 feet, 9 inches." (Fig. 12.) 



At the time it was mounted, this great predaceous 

 fish of the Cretaceous was said to be the most strik- 

 ing example of a fossil fish in any museum of the 

 world. Since that day, however, a still finer one 

 has been sent to the Carnegie Museum. This speci- 

 men is much superior to that at the American Mu- 

 seum, as the ribs, spines, pelvic fins, arches, and 

 anal fin are in position. 



I should certainly be guilty of a great injustice 

 to my friend and the friend of paleontology, Mr. 

 W. O. Bourne, of Scott City, whose name has al- 

 ready appeared in these pages in connection with 

 the great Tylosaur in the American Museum, if I 

 did not give him due credit for his share in the 

 securing of this specimen. He discovered the splen- 

 did fish and tumbled a small mountain over on top 

 of it to hide it. Then he kindly gave it to me, and 

 after much digging, my son was able to get trace of 

 it. Mr. Bourne showed his wisdom in thus covering 

 it up, not only from the elements, but also from man, 



