322 GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TEEEITORIES. 



witb teeth, was observed projecting from the side of a bluff by a com- 

 panion in exploration. Lieutenant James H. Whitten, United fStates 

 Army, and we at once proceeded to follow up the indication with knives 

 and picks. Soon the lower jaws were uncovered, with their glistening 

 teeth, and then the vertebrae and ribs. Our delight was at its height 

 when* the bones of the pelvis and part of the hind limb were laid bare, 

 for they had never been seen before in the species and scarcely in tbe 

 order. While lying on the bottom of the Cretaceous sea, the carcass 

 had been dragged hither and thither by the sharks and other rapacious 

 animals, and the parts of the skeleton were displaced and gathered into 

 a small area. The massive tail stretched away into the bluff, and after 

 much laborious excavation we left a portion of it to more persevering 

 explorers. The species of Clidastes did not reach such a size as some 

 of the Liodons, and were of elegant and flexible build. To prevent their 

 habits of coiling from dislocating the vertebral column, these had an 

 additional pair of articulations at each end, while their muscular 

 strength is attested by tbe elegant strige and other sculptures which 

 appear on all their bones. Five species of this genus occur in the 

 Kansas strata, the largest {Clidastes cineriarum, Cope) reaching 40 feet 

 in length. The discovery of a related species {Rolcodus coryphwus, Cope) 

 was made by the writer under circumstances of difficulty peculiar to 

 the plains. After examining the bluft's for half a day without result, a 

 few bone fragments were found in a wash above their base. Others 

 led the way to a ledge 40 or 50 feet from both summit and foot, where, 

 stretched along in the yellow chalk, lay tbe j^rojecting portions of tbe 

 whole monster. A considerable number of vertebrae were found pre- 

 served by the protective embrace of the roots of a small busb, and when 

 they were secured,' the pick and knife were brought into requisition to 

 remove the remainder. About this time one of the gales, so common 

 in that region, sprang up, and, striking the bluff fairly, reflected itself 

 upward. So soon as the i)ick iiulverized the rock, the limestone dust 

 was carried into eyes, nose, and every available opening in the clotbing. 

 I was speedily blinded, and my aid disappeared in the caiion, and was 

 seen no more while the work lasted. Only the enthusiasm of the stu- 

 dent could have endured tbe discomfort, but to him it appeared a most 

 unnecessary " conversion of force" that a geologist should be driven 

 from tbe field by his own dust. A handkerchief tied over tbe face, and 

 pierced by minute holes opposite the eyes, kept me from total blindness, 

 though dirt in abundance penetrated the mask. But a fine relic of 

 creative genius was extricated from its ancient bed, and one that leads 

 its genus in size and explains its structure. 



On another occasion, riding along a spur of a yellow chalk bluff, some 

 vertebrae lying at its foot met my eye. An examination showed that 

 the series entered the rock, and, on i^assing round to tbe opposite side, 

 the jaws and muzzle were seen j)rojecting from it, as thougb laid bare 

 for the convenience of the geologist. The spur was small and of soft 

 material, and we speedily removed it in blocks, to the level of the rep- 

 tile, and took out the remains as they laid across the base from side to 

 side. 



A genus related to the last is Edestosaurus. A species of 30 feet 

 in length, and of elegant proportions, has been called E. tortor, Cope. 

 Its sleuderness of body was remarkable, and the large bead was long 

 and lance-shaped. Its flippers tapered elegantly, and the whole ani- 

 mal was more of serpent than any other of its tribe. Its lithe move- 

 ments brought many a fish to its knife-shaped teeth, which are more 

 efficient and numerous than in any of its relatives. It was found coiled 



