THE DRAGONS OF OLD TIME DINOSAURS. 69 



strong and massive, and the limb-bones solid. As if partly in order 

 to balance the neck, we find a long and powerful tail, in which 

 the vertebra are nearly all solid. In most Dinosaurs the fore 

 limbs are small compared to the hind limbs e.g. Megalosaurus, 

 Iguanodon, and Scelidosaurus, but here we find them unusually 

 large. In this case, then, it is hardly possible that the creature 

 walked upon its hind legs, as many of the Dinosaurs did. 

 But, at the same time, we may believe that occasionally it 

 assumed a more erect position ; and may not the light hollowed 

 structure of the vertebrae in the fore part of the body, already 

 alluded to, have imparted such lightness as made it possible for 

 the creature to assume such attitudes ? There can be little doubt 

 but that many other fierce and formidable Dinosaurs were living 

 at the same time and in the same region with Brontosaurus, whose 

 remains are found in the Jurassic rocks of Colorado (Atlantosaurus 

 beds). 



How this apparently helpless and awkward animal escaped in 

 the struggle for existence it is not easy to conjecture ; but since 

 there is reason to believe it was more or less at home in the 

 water, and could use its powerful tail in swimming, we may 

 perhaps find a way out of the difficulty by supposing that, when 

 alarmed by dangerous flesh-eating foes, it took to the water, and 

 found discretion to be the better part of valour. Although 

 apparently stupid, the Brontosaur probably possessed a good deal 

 of cunning, and we can fancy it stretching its long neck above 

 reeds, ferns, and cycads to get a view of the approaching enemy. 



The Sauropoda, or lizard-footed Dinosaurs, show in many ways 

 a decided approach to a simple or generalised crocodile; so 

 much so, that Professor Cope is inclined to include crocodiles and 

 sauropodous Dinosaurs in the same order. Still, there are im- 

 portant differences in other members of this sub-order. Unfor- 

 tunately, our knowledge is at present rather limited, owing to the 

 want of complete skeletons. Vertebrae, limb-bones, skulls, and 

 teeth have all been discovered through the zeal and energy of 



