242 Life of a Fossil Hunter 



study and description of the wonderful fauna of the 

 Texas Permian, the greatest naturalist in America 

 had passed away with his work undone. Death is 

 terrible always, but it seems especially so when it 

 strikes down men in the highest rank of intelligence, 

 who are adding every day to the world's knowledge. 



I was Cope's assistant in the field for eight sea- 

 sons, and while we did not always agree, I consider 

 the work which I did for him my most valuable 

 service to science. It has often been my good 

 fortune to supply him with some important link in 

 the line of descent of vertebrate life, such as, for 

 instance, the famous batrachian genera Dissorophus 

 and Otoccrfus, reptiles with a carapace, indicating the 

 line of descent of turtles from batrachians, or the 

 camel from the John Day beds, with the metacarpals 

 and metatarsals distinct, and to furnish him with 

 a large number of other forms which, with the 

 material secured by his other collectors, helped him 

 to acquire what Dr. Osborn has so truthfully called 

 " a masterly knowledge of each type." 



It is largely due to his efforts that the great 

 science of paleontology, which, within my remem- 

 brance, had but few votaries, is now considered one 

 of the most interesting studies of modern times. 

 Well did he prophesy, " After us there will be more 

 demand for our wares " ; how well one can fully 

 realize only when one remembers that the great 



