DINOSAURS 
i8i 
Scelidosauriis : so named by Professor Owen from the indications 
of greater power in the hind legs than in most sauriansd It is 
the only known example of an almost entire skeleton of an 
English Dinosaur, and the history of its discovery is rather 
curious. Some time previous to 1861, Mr. J. Harrison, of 
Charmouth, obtained from the Lower Lias of that neighbourhood 
portions of the hind limb of a Dinosaur, and, later on, a nearly 
complete skull. These specimens were described by Owen, and 
the genus was founded on them. Mr. Harrison, whose discovery 
aroused great interest, continued to search on the same spot, 
and was rewarded by finding all the rest of the skeleton, except 
most of the neck vertebrEe. This was extracted in several blocks, 
and these, after careful “ development ” of the bones, were fitted 
together so as to exhibit the whole skeleton. This most valuable 
specimen can now be seen at South Kensington in a separate 
glass case, and is one of the treasures of the unrivalled gallery of 
fossil reptiles. (The case is placed so that both sides of the 
specimen can be seen.) Its length is about twelve feet ; perhaps 
the individual it represents was not fully grown, but, on account 
of the absence of most of the neck vertebras, it is impossible to 
give the exact length. Both hind limbs are entire and well seen, 
but of the fore limbs the hands are wanting. The former were 
provided with four “ functional ” toes — that is, toes that were 
used, — and one rudimentary ” or unused one. There were two 
big spines, one placed on each shoulder, and a series of long plates 
arranged in lines along the back and side. 
Another Dinosaur, of considerable dimensions, which flourished 
during the Wealden period was the Hyl^eosaurus, discovered by 
Dr. Mantell, and so named by him because it came from the 
Weald. 
^ From Greek — scelis, limb, and sauros, lizard. 
