290 Dr. H. Woodicard — Reconstruction of Iguanodon. 



the Jurassic period through several hundred feet of Coal-measures, 

 but since filled up and all trace of its existence obliterated on the 

 surface. On the discovery of the fossils M. Gustave Arnould, the 

 principal engineer of the coal-pit, immediately informed M. Diipont, 

 Director of the Brussels Museum, who at once sent M, Depauw, 

 the Chief Superintendent of the Modellers' Department, to under- 

 take the extraction of the bones, which were numerous and of 

 gigantic size. 



They are preserved in a blackish clay, which filled the valley 

 to a great extent, and was no doubt of fluviatile origin. The 

 associated fossil-remains tell us of an old land-surface covered with 

 cycads, arborescent ferns, and other semi-tropical plants of the 

 Wealden period. 



The river must have been well stocked with fishes, especially those 

 of the genus Lepidotus, having thick enamelled scales, reminding 

 one of the American bony pike, but with a very different form of 

 head, and with rounded crushing palatal teeth. The banks of the 

 stream foi-med the home of lizards, crocodiles, water-tortoises, 

 and the huge Iguanodon. Thick vegetation of ferns and giant 

 Equisetaceee clothed the margins of the river, and we can easily 

 realize that in times of flood, which were not infrequent, the 

 Iguanodon — and the plants they fed upon — together with crocodiles, 

 water-tortoises, and the fishes of the stream, were all entombed in 

 one common grave and covered up by deposits of fine mud left 

 behind by the river-flood. Evidence of no fewer than four of 

 these freshets was observed by M. Dupont in the course of these 

 explorations.^ 



The exhumation and removal from the mine of these ponderous 

 remains occupied two years. The subsequent development and 

 setting up of the five individuals exhibited in the Brussels Museum 

 was a far longer and still more critical labour. The work of 

 description, commenced in 1881 by Mr. G. A. Boulenger, was 

 continued by M. L. Dollo, in great detail, with admirable figures 

 (see Bull Mus. Eoy. Hist. Nat. Beige 1881-82). 



Although three entire wall-cases and two table-cases are devoted 

 to the exhibition in the British Museum (Natural History) of the 

 remains of the Iguanodon from British localities, they nevertheless 

 fail to impress one with the same degree of interest which is felt in 

 the presence of the huge skeleton which now forms so conspicuous 

 an object in the central floor-space of the Reptile (lallery. 



The specimen set up is a coloured reproduction by M. Depauw of 

 one of the five entire skeletons exhibited in the Royal Museum of 

 Natural History in Brussels, which he has worked out and recon- 

 structed with such consummate skill. The skeleton measures 

 15 feet in height, and 30 feet from the head to the extremity of the 

 tail. It is set up in the position in which it is believed the animal 

 commonly walked. 



The Iguanodon was a vegetable-feeding reptile, and its cheek- 

 teeth, which exceed 80 in number, were well adapted for chewing 

 1 Bull. Acad. Eoy. de Belgique, 2nd Serie, Tome 46, 1878, pp. 387-408. 



