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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



and skull, suggests that the animal was am])liibious. living chiefly 

 in shallow water, where it could wade about on the bottom, 

 feeding on the abundant vegetation of the coastal swamps and 

 marshes, and pretty much out of reach of the powerful and ac- 

 tive Carnivorous Dinosaurs which were its ]:)rinci])al enemies. 



FIG. 4. RESTORATION OF BRONTOSAURUS. BY CHARLES R. KNIGHT 

 This restoration represents Professor Osborn's view of tlie habits of the animal 



The water wcmld buoy up the massive body and prevent its 

 weight from pressing too heavily on the imperfect joints of the 

 limb- and foot-bones, which were covered during life with thick 

 cartilage, like the joints of whales, seals and other aquatic ani- 

 mals. If the full weight of the animal came on these imperfect 

 joints, the cartilage would yield and the ends of the bones would 

 grind against each other, thus preventing the limb from moving 

 without tearing the joint to pieces. The massive, solid limb- 

 and foot-bones weighted the Hmbs while immersed in water, and 

 served the same purpose as the lead in a diver's shoes, enabling 

 the Brontosaurus to walk about firmly and securely under water. 

 On the other hand, the joints of the neck and back are ex- 

 ceptionally broad, well-fitting and covered with a much thinner 



