47 



heavens formed a fitting monument, as at once his favorite weapon, and the 

 mark distinguishing all his race. The Liodon dyspelor was probably the 

 longest of known reptiles, and probably equal to the great finner-whales of 

 modern oceans. The circumstances attending the discovery of one of these 

 will always be a pleasant recollection to the writer. A part of the face, with 

 teeth, was observed projecting from the side of a bluff by a companion in 

 exploration, Lieut. James H. "Whitten, United States 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 the order. While lying on the bottom of the Creta- 

 ceous 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 persever- 

 ing explorers. The discovery of a related species (Platecarpus coryphceus, 

 Cope) was made by the writer under circumstances of difficulty peculiar to 

 the plains. After examining the bluffs for half a day without result, a" few 

 bone-fragments were found in awash above their base. Others led the way to 

 a ledge forty or fifty feet from both summit and foot, where, stretched along iu 

 the yellow chalk, lay the projecting portions of the whole monster. A con- 

 siderable number of vertebrae were found preserved by the protective embrace 

 of the roots of a small bush, 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 pick pulverized the rock, the 

 limestone-dust was carried into eyes, nose, and every available opening in the 

 clothing. I was speedily blinded, and my aid disappeared in the canon, and 

 was seen no more while the work lasted. A handkerchief tied over the 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 



