[17] COLLECTING AND PREPARING FOSSILS SCHUCHERT. 



monster of the ancient sea. He may find the vertebral column running 

 far into the limestone that locks him in his last prison; or a paddle 

 extended on the slope, as though entreating aid; or a pair of jaws lined 

 with horrid teeth, which grin despair on enemies they are helpless to 

 resist; or he may find a conic mound, on whose apex glisten in the sun 

 the bleached bones of one whose last office has been to preserve from 

 destruction the friendly soil on which he reposed. Sometimes a pile of 

 huge remains will be discovered, which the dissolution of the rock has 

 deposited on the lower level; the force of rain and wash having been 

 insufficient to carry them away," ^ 



Complete skeletons are rare, since these remains, unless the animals 

 were mired in swamps, have been more or less broken up by the action 

 of the waters or scattered by predaceous animals. Good skeletons are 

 often lost through lack of knowledge of proper methods in collecting. 

 Of the American elephant and mastodon many skeletons are found annu- 

 ally in the United States, and yet there are few fine skeletons of these 

 animals extant in the museums of this country. Teeth are often seen, 

 but other parts are commonly lost. Persons who find the bones of these 

 monsters usually dig them up and lay them on the ground to dry, where 

 their complete ruin is but a matter of a few days, since, if unprepared 

 by gum or glue solutions, the bones will crumble in the sun and air. 



The skull of a mastodon or elephant falling into the hands of an 

 unskilled person is usually destroyed, because of its size, weight, and 

 soft condition in the ground in which it occurs. Wheu the great molar 

 teeth are seen, considerable curiosity is aroused, and then it has hap- 

 pened that sledge hammers or any other instrument which would 

 break the skull have been brought into action so that the teeth may 

 be taken out. These may eventually be seen by somebody having a 

 knowledge of their scientific value, but only after the valuable skull 

 has been ruined. The teeth may be worth several dollars, whereas if 

 the skull had been left entire it would have brought a far greater price. 



The bones of each individual animal should be kept together, and 

 separate from all others. Gather all the loose bones and fragments on 

 the surface before digging out the rest of the skeleton. Single bones, 

 if one end is perfect, are worth saving. If freshly broken all the pieces 

 should be sought for and preserved. 



Small more or less complete skeletons are not so difficult to handle 

 as large ones. When complete, or when parts are in their natural 

 position, do not remove them piece by piece, but leave the skeleton 

 together. Specimens in their natural position are of great importance 

 to anatomists. Having secured such a specimen, dig away enough of 

 the rock on top to ascertain its position and extent. If in solid rock, 

 all that should be done is to free the block, leaving sufficient rock 

 around the skeleton to give it firmness. When in a soft matrix, expose 



'Cope, E.D.— The Vertebrata of the Cretaceous Formation of the West. Kept. 

 TJ. S. Geol. Survey Terr., II, p. 43, 1875. 



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