1890.) Scientific News. 303 
Plaster in bulk is cheap we know, but, when misused, will cost aman 
his reputation. When Professor Marsh made his notorious “ Bison ” aiti- 
cornis blunder,—describing, for a second time at least, a reptile as a 
mammal,—the horns as they came in from the collector were not satis- 
factory,—from a bison standpoint,—and were straightway broken 
apart, straightened up, and given the ‘‘ proper sweep.”’ 
All the ugly chinks were filled with the ever-ready mixture, and the 
helpless old ‘‘Bison’’ alticornis came out of it all witha nobility of front 
creditable to the king of bisons himself, but with his personal appear- 
ance so touched up withal that he couldn’t tell himself whether he was 
a bull bison from the Tertiary, or an outraged reptile from the Meso- 
ic. Nor could anyone for that matter. But when future genera- 
tions shall have chiseled away the plaster from the cavities, foramina, 
and sutures, its real identity may be re-established (Figs. 5 and 

G. 5.—The ms of “Bison” alticornis Marsh, as nearly as they appeared w 
received as is aele ce in their hoe condition. Colored plaster, once applied jaap a 
specimen, cuts off much that is worth knowing. ` TE 
FIG. 6.—The same as ar appear in the illustration, with no hint of the colo: 
plaster. See American Journal of Science, Vol. XxEIV, October, 1887.) 
But in the mean time illustrations of the ‘‘ Bison’’ horns go out to 
the world (see American Journal of Science, Vol. XXXIV., October, 
1887), but without the slightest intimation of the plaster hiatus there. 
Now that it turns out a horned reptile, and not a bison atall, he neither 
represents the live animal, nor the specimen as it came from the quarry. 
