248 WALKS AND TALKS. 



We watch him through his sea-side promenade, and fol- 

 low him to the dank and peaty jungle where he finds his 

 home. We see him browse from the lower tufts of foliage, 

 and grind the fibrous twigs with the jaw-movements of a her- 

 bivore, wearing away and blunting the crowns of his teeth. 

 But he 'meets his enemy another Deinosaur of bloodthirsty 

 disposition, a flesh-eater, and armed with sharp and lacerating 

 teeth. Between the two a bitter feud exists, and they have, 

 at former times, clenched in the struggle for prowess. The 

 herbivore recognizes his superior; but unwillingly subject, 

 fierce auger flashes from his dark eye, and with a defiant, un- 

 christian growl, he makes room for the contemptuous and 

 bloody carnivore to pass. 



There are others of the ruling dynasty which disport 

 themselves in the waves ; but these sea-saurians (Enaliosaurs) 

 are only the forerunners of an army which is marching down 

 the course of events, and may be expected in the morning of 

 another age. There are also others. We walk in the twi- 

 light of a Mesozoic day, along the reedy shore of a gloomy 

 estuary, and the crocodiles are crawling out on the land for 

 midnight prowling. A broad crocodilian grin reveals an array 

 of cruel, conical teeth set in the jaws ; and their lazy forms 

 are encased in a jointed bony cuirass, which fits them for de- 

 fensive warfare. When Bel'odvn moves through the jungle, 

 even the Deinosaur is startled from his security. 



Within the limits of that recess of the continent destined 

 to be named New England, is a deep and narrow bay, which 

 projects far northward from the future shore of Long Island 

 Sound. We stand upon the gneissic slope of the western 

 shore, and survey the shining expanse. The tide is out, and 

 the smooth sand beach is laid bare. Over its surface lie 

 squirming and crawling and shrinking from exposure, the 

 sundry forms of marine life which the last tide brought up. 

 This is the opportunity for the land-marauders. Now they 

 hurry to the scene in search of a meal. There, most conspic- 

 uously, strides the tall uncouth Bron-to-zo'-um, a three-toed 

 Deinosaur, standing fourteen feet high. Its foot is twenty- 



