DEPARTMENT. OF THE INTERIOR 

FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY· 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 

Professional Paper 103 

I BRACI-IYCERATOPS 

A CERATOPSIAN DINOSAUR. FROM THE TWO MEDIClNE 

FORMATION.OF MONTANA 

WITH NOTES ON ASSOCIATED FOSSIL REPTILES 

BY 

CHAHLES W. GILMORE 

WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1917 
ADDITIONAL COPIES 

OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM 

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

AT 

10 CENTS PER COPY 

A 
CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction ...................................................................... _...................... 1 

Stratigraphy of the Two Medicine formation, by Eugene Stebinger .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Fauna of tho Two Medicine and related formations ...... ~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Ceratopsidae............................................................................................. 7 

Brachyceratops montanensis . ............................. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Osteology of Brachyceratops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

The skull .............................................. -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

General features.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Nasals...................................................................................... 9 

Prefrontals.................................................................................. 9 

Post£rontals .................. -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Postorbital... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Dermosupraoccipital ................................................................ ~....... 11 

Lachrymal ................. .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Alisphenoid .....................•.... : ................................................ · . . . . . 13 

Exocci pi tal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Premaxillarios ..................... -......................................................... 14 

Maxillaries............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Rostral ............... _ .... • ................................ ·.................................. 15 

Predentary .................... ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Dentary.................................................................................... 16 

Teeth...................................................................................... 16 

Supratemporal fossae ........................ · ..... .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Measurements of the skull.................................................................... 18 

The vertebral column .......................................................................... __ 19 

General features ........................................................................... _- 19 

Cervicals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Dorsals .............................. ~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Sacrum ........................................................................ -.............. 21 

Caudal vertebrae .............................................................. · ....... -....... 23 

'fhe ribs .................................................................... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

'l'he chevrons..................................................................................... 2? 

Ossified tendons ............. ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 26 

The shoulder girdle and fore limb... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26 

Scapula...................................................................................... 26 

Ulna........................................................................................ 27 

Radius...................................................................................... 27 

li'ore foot..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 27 

The pelvic girdle and hind limb .................................... · ............................. - 28 

Ilium....................................................................................... 28 

Pubis ................................................................ :...................... 29 

Ischium.................................................................................... 29 

Femur ............................. :....................................................... 30 

Tibia .......................................................................... ·.............. 31 

Fibula ............................................................. ·........................ 31 

The hind foot......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

The specimens.................................................................................. 31 

Tarsus ........................................... ·.......................................... 33 

~fetatarsus.................................................................................. 33 

Phalanges ................................................................................ : . . . 34 

Restoration of Brachyceratops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

Relations of Brachyceratops.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

III 
IV CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Trachodontidae .......... · ...................... ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38· 

Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown. : ........ -............................. •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38. 

Stephanosaurus marginatus? (Lambe) ............... ~ ........................... ·....................... 41 

Trachodpnt gen. and sp. undet................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 

Trachodont gen. and sp. undet......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43. 

Ankylosauridae......... . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Europlocephalus sp ... : . .. ~ ............. ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43. 

Chelonia ........................... · ................. ·r··.................................................. 44 

Basilemys sp ............................................ · ..... " ......................... ·.............. 44 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PLATE I. Life restoration of Brachyceratops montanensis ...................•......................•..•.•.•... 

II. A, Badlands on :Milk River about 30 miles northwest of Cut Bank, Mont.; B; Two Medicine formation as exposed on Two Medicine River, Mont.; C, Two Medicine formation as exposed on Milk 

Page. 

River, Mont .................................. ~............................................... 2 

Ill. A, Articulated caudal vertebrae of Brachyceratops montanensis; B, Sacrum of Brachyceratops rnf;>ntanensis; C, Sacral centra of Brachyceratops montanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

IV. Skeletal restoration of Brachyceratops montanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . 34 

FIGURE l. Gimeralized section of the formations of the Montana group (Upper Cretaceous) in northwestern 

Montana ............................................... ~..................................... z· · 2. Skull of Brachyceratops niontanensis, lateral view ....... ·........................................ S 

3. Skull of Brachyceratops montanensis, superior view ................................... _. _....... 9 

4. Nasals and nasal horn cores of Brachyceratops montanensis ................................ _....... 10• 

5. Right prefrontal of Brachyceratops montanensis. . .................. : . ....... ·..................... . ll 

6. Postfrontals and prefrontals of Brachyceratops montanensis........................................ 11 

7. Right postorbital of Brachyaratops montanensis....................................... . . 12· 

8. Cross section of dermosupraoccipital of Brachyceratops rnontanensis .................... _.. . . . . . . . . . 12 

9. Dermosupraoccipital of Brachyceratops rnontanen~is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 13 

10. Derniosupraoccipital of Monoclonius crassus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

11. Left exoccipital of Brachyceratops rnontanensis................................................... 14 

12. Left premaxillary of Brachyceratops montanensis ..................................... :........... 14 

13. Left maxillary of Brachyceratops rnontanensis.................................................... 15 

14. Rostral of Brachyceratops rnontanensi~.......................................................... 16 

15. Predentary of Brachyceratops rnontanensis...................................................... 16 

16. Dentary of Brachyceratops rnontanensis .............. . ·......................................... 17 

17. Dentary of Brachyceratops rnontanensis......................................................... 17 

18. Third upper tooth of Brachyceratops rnontanensis ... ....................... : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

19. Unworn lower tooth of Brachyceratops rnontanensis ............... . ·............................... 18 

20. Detached tooth of Brachyceratops rnontanensis .............. ~ .. :................................. 18 

21. Posterior cervical process of Brachyceratops rnontanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

22. Anterior dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops rnontanensis........................................... 20 

' 23. Median dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops rnontanensis . ....... ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

24. Posterior dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops rnontanensis........................................... 20 

25. Centrum of dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops rnontanensis . ................................. : . . . . 20 

26. Sacrum of Brachyceratops rnontanensis with ilia in position....................................... 21 

27. Sacrum of Triceratops prorsus with ilia in position............................................... 22 

28. Anterior caudal vertebra of Brachyceratops rnontanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

29. Median caudal vertebra 'of Brachyceratops rnontanen5is........................................... 24 

30. Distal caudal vertebrae of Brachyceratops rnontanensis... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

31. Dorsal ribs of Brachyceratops rnontanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

32. Posterior dorsal rib of Brachycerat9ps rnontanensis . ...................... : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

33. Chevron o~ Brachyceratops rnontanensis .................................. . ·....................... 26 

34. Left scapula of Brachyceratops rnontanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

35. Left ulna of Brachyceratops montanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

36. Proximal and distal portions of the radius of Brachyceratops rnontanensis ................ :......... 28 

37. Bones provisionally identified as pertaining to the forefoot of Brachyceratops montanen~is. . . . . . . . . . . 28 

38. Left ilium of Brachyceratops montanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

39. Left ilium ofBrachyceratops rnontanensis........................................................ 29 
CON~ENTS. V 

Page. 

FmuRE 40. Right ilium of Triceratops flabellatus Marsh ..................... ~............................... 30 

41. Left pubis of Brachyceratops 11wntanensis. ~ ................................................. ,... 30 

42. Right ischium of Brachyceratops montanensis ........... , .................... ,................... 31 

43. Femur of Brachyceratops montanensis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

44. Tibia of Brachyceratops montanensis.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

45. Fibula of Brachyceratops montanensis . ................... ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

46. Left hind foot of Brachyceratops montanensis .................. : ....................... _·_....... 34 

47. Left hind foot of Brachyceratops montanensis ......................... . ·......................... 35 

48. Left dentary of Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown ..................... ~......................... 39 

49. Lachrymal of Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown................................................. 39 

50. Right ilium of Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown................................................ 39 

51. Left pubis of Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown ................... _._............................. 40 

52. Anterior caudal vertebra of Hypacrosaurus altispin'us? Brown.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

53. 1\<ledian caudal vertebra of Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown ........................... _........ 40 

54. Right dentary of Stephanosaurus marginatus'l (Lambe)........................................... 42 

55. Left ischium of unidentified tr~chodont reptile................................................ 43 

56.· Right ilium of unidentified trachodont reptile.................................................. 43 

57. Dermal plates of Europlocephalus sp.... .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 
BRACHYCERATOPS, A CERATOPSIAN DINOSAUR FROM THE T'VO MEDICINE 

FORMATION OF MONTANA, WITH NOTES ON ASSOCIATED FOSSIL 

REPTILES. 

By CHARLES W. GrLM:ORE.1 

INTRODUCTION. 

The fossils on which this paper is based were collected by me and my assistant, 

:Mr. J. F. Strayrer, during the summer of 1913, while working under the auspices of the ·united 

States Geological Survey on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, in northwestern Montana. The 

specimens were obtained from exposures of the Two Medicine formation along Milk River near 

the Canadian boundary, in T. 37. N., R. 8 W., about 30 miles northwest of the town of Cut 

Bank, Mont., and along Two Medicine River in T. 31 N., R. 7 W., about 15 miles southwest of 

Cut Bank. Vertebrate remains were found at these pla~es in, 1911 and 1912 by Eugene Stebinger, 

while he was engaged in Geological Survey work, and he was the first to note that the localities 

are good fields for finding specimens of fossil vertebrates. 2 Although the present collection is 

small, it is of considerable scientific interest because it supplements the collections made in 

neighboring areas by other investigators, and because it contains a new genus of Ceratopsia in 

addition to other recognizable specimens which afford evidence that considerably extends the 

geologic and geographic ranges of forms heretofore described. 

The beds from which the collection was made constitute the upper part of the Two Medicine formation, which includes the equivalent of the Juditl;l River formation and some older 

beds. The fossiliferous beds are also the equivalent of the upper part of the Belly River formation as found in neighboring areas of Canada. 

'"rhe fauna of the American Judith River formation, although diversified, is very inadequately lmown. Many of the genera and species have been founded on specimens so ·scant and 

fragmentary that it is almost impossible to refer to them subsequently discovered and n1ore 

perfect materials. Recent collections made by L. M. Lambe, of the Canada Geological Survey, 

and by Barnu1n Brown, of the American Museum of Natural History, .from the Belly River 

:formation along Red Deer River in Canada, however, have placed this fauna on a more 

solid basis. 

~~l~e purpose of this paper is to give as complete and detailed a description of the skeletal 

anat01ny of Brachyceratops montanensis as the material at hand will permit and to discuss 

briefly, in systematic order, other forms represented by specimens in the collection made 

in 1913. 

I take this opportunity to express my thanks for0 assistance rendered and for courtesies 

extended at 1nany times, both in the field and during the preparation of this report, by 

Messrs. M. R. Campbell, T. W. Stanton, and F. H. Knowlton, and especially by Mr. Eugene 

Stebinger, all of the United States Geological Survey. 

STRATIGRAPHY OF THE TWO MEDICINE FORMATION. 

By EuGENE STEBINGER. 

All the vertebrate fo.ssils described in this report were collected from a single formation of 

Montana (Upper Cretaceous) age, to which the name Two Medicine formation has been applied 

recently by the United Stn.tes Geological Survey. It occurs ·throughout the part of the plains 

t Assistant curator of fossil reptiles, United States National Museum. 

2 Stebinger, Eugene, Washington Acad. Sci. Jour., vol. 4, p. 383, 1914. 

1 
2 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

region in Montana that lies at the east base of the Lewis Range and the mountains immediately 

to the south. The formation is well exposed in all the larger stream· valleys, and at many places 

. along those streams it is carved into intricate badl~nds. {See Pl. II, A.) The rocks are soft 

and light colored;'white ·to gray and greenish gray being· the prevailing tints, and are chiefly 

clay, clay shale, and soft sandstone. The sandstones are very irregular in thickness, thinning 

rapidly in short distances, and in places are strongly cross-bedded, being in part at least of 

eolian origin. Thin beds of red clay and thin nodular limestones· are occasionally found. The 

formation averages 2,000 feet in thickness and is very uniform in appearance throughout, 

. except that· its lowest 250 feet is more sandy than its upper part. 

, Besides a remarkable abundance of vertebrate remains, the fossils in the T~o Medicine 

formation include both invertebrates , and plants. The invertebrates, according to T. W. 

Stanton, are principally fresh-water types, and Dnio, 

Viviparus, and Oampeloma are the most abundant 

:::.·:·::· :·.:·:: genera. Brackish-water forms are also frequently 

H~~~~~~~~ ' ·.·:::.::.-:. si~ra:a!'da~~:c."~i~'b'b;'a:i found, especially in the lower sandy portion. Fossil 

360' :.{.:~.::~:/:}:·~:.~: the base. wood, some of it in complete sections of tr~e trunks as 

much as 18 inches in diarp.eter, is abundant. The flora 

eearpaw so far collected is reported by F. H. Knowlton to be shale Dark clay shale, marine. 

4so' of Belly River age. 'The evidence of rapid and irregu-

'lar deposition afforded by the lithology of the formation, together with the presence of a dinosaur fauna, 

of land plants, and of fresh-water shells, leaves little 

doubt that the rocks as a whole are continental in 

or1gm. 

Fortunately, the stratigraphy of the Two Medicine 

formation and the formations associated with it can be 

very easily deciphered, because of the simplicity of the 

Two Medicine 

formation 

1950' 

Light-colored clays and 

irregular soft sandstones, nearly horizontal structure and the general excellence 

chiefly of fresh-water origin. 

of the exposures throughout large areas of the Montana 

VirQelle sand~tone 

220' 

group in northwefltern Montana. The fact that the 

Two Medicine formation lies below one marine clay shale 

carrying a Pierre fauna and above another marine shale 

carrying an upper Colorado fauna is well established. 

According to recent work 1 the section of the Montana 

group, including the Two Medicine formation, as exposed on Two Medicine River between its mouth and 

i::>:\\\~.\~ si?ora:a~'ds~~:.,~osi~'b"b;'a:i Family post office, contains four lithologic units, which the base. have been designated Virgelle sandstone, Two Medicine 

FIGURE I.-Generalized section of the formations of the 

Montana group (Upper Cretaceo~s) in northwestern Montana. Arrows indicate position of horizons in Two Medicine formation from which most of the vertebrates 

described in this report were collected. 

formation, Bearpaw shale and Horsethief sandstone. 

(See fig. 1.) The Colorado shale, carrying a characteristic marine fauna, underlies this group of formations 

and appears in the section at the mouth of Two Medicine 

River under bold cliffs of Virgelle sandstone. Traced 

north~ard the Virgelle sandstone and Two Medicine formation prove to be exactly equivalent 

to the Belly River beds as mapped by Dawson 2 in southern Alberta. Dawson recognized the 

prominent sandstone at the base of the Belly River formation and described it in detail but not 

as a separate formation. In Montana this basal sandstone has been traced ove;r a large area 

in the western part of the State and has everywhere been J;ecognized as a distinct mappable 

unit. This made it impossible to use Dawson's designation Belly River for any of the roc~s 

in Montana, and the name Two M~dicine was therefore adopted for the upper part of Dawson's 

original formation. On the other hand, the relations of the Judith River formation to the Two 

1 Stebinger, Eugene, Washington Acad. Sci. Jour., vol. 4, p. 383, 1914. 

s Dawson, G. M., Canada Geol. Survey Progress Rept. for 1882-1884, p. 112c, 1885. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 103 PLATE I 

Ll FE RESTORATION OF BRACHYCERATOPS MONT AN ENS IS. 

Modeled by Charles W. Gilmore. About one-eighth natural size. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 103 PLATE II 

A. BADLANDS ON MILK RIVER ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF CUT BANK, MONT. 

Looki ng south across sees. 27 and 28. T. 37 N., R. 8 W. a, Pl ace where large trach odont femur was found; b, place where Hypac rosauru s ske leton was found; x- x, clay 

zone, filled with minute shell fragments. Ph otograph by Eugene Stebinger. 

B. TWO MEDICINE FORMATION AS EXPOSED ON TWO MEDICINE 

RIVER, MONT. 

Arrow indicates place where large trachodont spec imen was found 

0. TWO MEDICINE FORMATION AS EXPOSED ON MILK RIVER, 

MONT. 

Arrow in dicates place where skeletons of Brach yce ratops montanensis 

were found. 
FAUNA OF THE TWO MEDICINE AND RELATED FORMATIONS. 3 

Medicine formation became apparent on tracing the formations eastward toward the type area 

of the Judith River formations in central Montana. The Judith ·River formation proves to be 

equivalent to only the upper part of the Two Medicine formation, which in its entirety is equivalent.to the upper part of the Eagle, the Claggett, and the Judith River formations combined. 

The stratigraphic positions of the three principal horizons in the Two Medicine formation 

at which the fossils here described were obtained are indicated by arrows on the columnar section. (See fig. 1.) All the vertebrate remains collected in 1913 were obtained from the upper 

half of the formation, so that the base of the overlying marine shale, the Bearpaw, was the mof?t 

convenient datum for fixing the stratigraphic. position of the fossil localities. This upper part 

of the rr\vo Medicine formation is very fossilifei·ous, bone fragments being ab1.U1daut throughout 

· the strata and no well-marked zonal distribution being apparent .. For the sake of stratigraphic 

accuracy tlu·ee horizons at which most of the specimens were collected are described below, 

without implying that the distribution of these fossils is at all limited to these horizons. IIorizon No. 1, at which Brachyceratops montanensis and Hypacrosaurus altispinus ~ were collected 

on Milk River in T. 37 N., R. 8 W., lies 340 feet below the base of the Bearpaw shale as exposed 

on the slopes of Landslide Butte on the south edge of this township. In theN.! sec. 27 the beds 

at this horizon lie immediately above a zone of clays about 10 feet thick filled with minute 

shell fragments (see X-X, Pl. II, .A), apparently mainly Unios, which serves as au excellent marker 

for the bone bed above it, from which Brachyceratops and Hypacrosaurus were collected. This · 

shell zone can be traced for about half a mile northwestward, to a point where the river valley 

turns abruptly northward, and is marked_ throughout by abundant fossil bones. All the specimens of Brachyceratops montanensis· w·ere found 1! miles north of this locality {see Pl. II, 0), 

on the strike of .the gently westward-dipping beds, at nearly the same elevation and therefore at 

·approximately the same stratigraphic position. Horizons 2 and 3, at which material was collect~d on Two Medicine River in T. 31 N., R. 7 W., were fixed stratigraphically by measuring 

downward from the base of the Bearpaw shale as exposed 6 miles to the west. Horizon 2, at 

which an unidentified trachodont (No. 7955, U. S. N. M.) was collected on the south side of 

Two Medicine River in the NE. 1 sec. 15 (see Pl. II, B), is about 490 feet below the Bearpaw 

shale. Horizon 3, which yielded a trachodont on the south side of the river, but in the NE.1 sec. 

12 (No. 8058, U.S.N. M.), is 445 feet lower, being approximately 935 feet below the same shale 

and therefore very near tl?-e center of the Two Medicine formation. 

FAUNA OF THE TWO MEDICINE AND REJ .. ATED FORMATIONS. 

Vertebrate fossils are found throughout the upper part of the Two Medicine formation, and 

nearly all of them belong to the class Reptilia. The great number of trachodonts found appears 

to indicate that these were the most abundant·dinosaurs of the epoch. Their remains are distributed from the base to the very top of the beds representing the upper half of the Two Medi-

·Cine formation, as exposed in the localities visited in 1913 along Milk and Two Medicine rivers. 

On each of the 15 days spent in prospecting 8 to 14 specimens sufficiently complete to be recogJ1ized as pertaining to the Trachodontidae were discovered. Only a few of these, however, were 

perfect enough to warrant collecting, and none were intact, though many found in the Edmonton 

.and Belly River areas iii Cana4a and in the Lance formation of Wyoming and Montana were 

:still articulated. 

Next to the '"frachodontidae the Ceratopsidae were most abundant, but of the half a dozen 

:specimens found only one (the type specimen of Brachyceratops montanensis) is of scientific 

interest, the others consisting either of sipgle bones or of fragments so badly weathered as to be 

.qf little value. 1 They show, however, the existence here of large members of the group. 

Annored dinosaurs were present in these localities, as indicated by the finding of the dermal 

plates of n member of. the Ankylosauridae, provisionally referred to the genus Europlocephalus. 

Teeth of carnivorous dinosaurs are common, but skeletal remains appear to be rare, except 

:as single bones. It would appear from the scant evidence that several small dinosaurs of which 

little is known lived at this time. 
4 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

Fragments of turtles are plentiful, but no complete shells were observed. The soft-shelled 

kinds appear to predominate. A few teeth. and _single bones of extinct crocodiles were found, 

but only two vertebral centra of the long-snouted rhyncocephalian reptile Ohampsosaurus, 

which is. abtindant in some areas of the Belly. River formation. 

Isolated scales and plates of ganoid fishes, probably referable to the genus Lepisosteus, were 

found here and there throughout the beds. 

The genera and species identified. from this small collection from the Two Medicine formation 

are as follows: 

Ceratopsidae: Rhyncocephalia; 

Brachyceratops montanensis Gilmore. Champsosaurus sp. 

Ceratopsian, gen. and sp. undet. Chelonia: · 

Trachodontidae: Basilemys sp. 

Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown. Aspideretes foveatus (Leidy). 

Stephanosaurus marginatus? (Lambe). Aspideretes sp. 

Trachodont, _gen. and sp. undet. Crocodylidae: 

Trachodont, gen. and sp. undet. Leidyosuchus sp. 

Ankylosauridae: Pisces: · 

Europlocephalus sp. Lepisosteus sp. 

The vertebrate fauna of the Two Medicine formation, as represented by this small collection, although too meager to serve as a basis for· close comparisons with related faunas, accords 

with the stratigraphic evidencefor the correlation of the upper part of the Two Medicine formation with the dinosaur-bearing· beds of the Judith River and Belly River formations. This is 

shown not so much perhaps by identity of forms as by the primitive facies of the fauna as a 

whole, and also by the similarity in degree of development of some of the principal representatives of the Dinosauria. The latter statement is .especially applicable to members of the family 

Ceratopsidae. In order to make this ftSsertion a .littJe clearf.jr, it may be well to review briefly 

the development of the Ceratopsia. · 

The earliest ceratopsians known were fomid in the Judith River and Belly River formations. The group occurs also in the Edmonton and in the upper part of the Lance . 

. In. contrasting the ceratopsians from these formations the chief differences are found in the 

structure of the skull, especially in the comparative sizes of the postorbital and nasal horn cores 

and in the open or closed structure of the nuchal frill. In the Judith River, Belly River, and 

Two Medicine ceratopsians the nasal horn is usually .the larger, whereas the postorbital horns 

are small, rudimentary, and sometimes wanting. In the Lance ceratopsians the opposite condition is universal. The fenestrated frill is a feature of all the earlier ceratopsians, but is retained 

In the Lance forms only by Torosaurus and in lesser degree by Diceratops, all others having a 

complete 'bony frill without fenestration. · -

The earliest known Ceratopsia may be contrasted with those from the Lance formation as 

follows: (1) The individuals are smaller, (2) the nasal horn core is usually larger than the 

postorbital horn cores, (3) the nuchal frill is imperfectly developed, (4) the pos~frontal and 

dermosupraoccipital bones are less perfectly united, .(5) the squ~mosals are shorter, and (6) the 

dentition is reduced. 

With all ,these primitive characteristics the single known Two Medicine genus Brachy-. 

ceratops is in exact accord. In addition it may be said that Brachyceratops montanensis appears 

to have its closest affinity with Monoclonius 1 dawsoni Lambe from the Belly River of Canada. 

Previous to 1913 only three recognizable genera of the Ceratopsidae (Monoc~onius, Oeratops, 

and Oentrosaurus) were known from the Judith River and Belly River formations. Since 1913, 

however, the discovery of new material has more than doubled the number of described genera, 

Lambe having established the genera Styracosaurus, 2 Ohasmosaurus, 3 Eoceratops, 4 andProtoro1 Since this observation"~'> made (1914) Lambe has referred his species to Brachyceratops (Lambe, L.·M., On Eoceratops canadensis, gen. nov., 

with remarks on other genem o1Cretaceous horned dinosaurs: Canada G'eol. Survey Mlls. Bull. 12, Geol. ser., No. 24, p. 18, May 7, 1915). 

2 Lambe, L. M., A new genus and species of Ceratopsia from the Belly Riv'er formation of Alberta: Ottawa Natmalist, vol. 27, pp. 109-116, 

pls. 10-12, 1913. 

a Lambe, L. M., On uryposaurus notabilis, a new genus and species of trachodont dinosaur from the Belly River formation of Alberta, with a 

description of the skull of Chasmosaurus belli: Idem, p. 155, pls. 19, 20, February, 1914. 

4 Lambe, L. M., op. cit. (On Eocerat_ops canadensis, etc.), pp. 1-25. 
FAUNA OF THE T'WO MEDICINE AND RELATED FORMATIONS. 5 

saurus,l from the Belly River of Canada; and Brachyceratops 2 having been added from the Two 

Medicine formation of Montana. Sufficient material of Brachyceratops was obtained to permit 

a skeletal restoration. (See Pl. IV.) 

Recent explorations in the Edmonton formation show that these beds have a charact~ristic 

ceratopsian fauna, regarded by Brown 3 as being intern1ediate between that of the Judith River 

and Belly River formations on the one hand and that of the Lance formation on the other 

hand, with affinities nearer those of the former. The fact that a number of specimens from the 

Edmonton of Cnnada are as yet undescribed renders it impracticab1e at this time to make a 

close comparison of this fauna with those of the formations named. It should be mentioned, 

however, that none of the ceratopsian genera of the Judith River, Belly River, or Two Medicine 

formations are known to have continued into either the Edmonton or the Lance. 

As stn,ted previously, the trachodont reptiles were the most abundant dinosaurs of the 

Judith River, Belly River, and Two Medicine formations, and recent discoveries have shown 

them to be almost as diversified in their structure as the contemporary ceratopsians. , 

If the genera Saurolophus, Hypacrosaurus, Stephanosaurus, and J(ritosaurus and the five 

species described since 1910 are included, no less than 15 genera and 25 species of North Americanl'rachodontidae have been described. The list as known in 1902, however, consistipg of 10 

genera and 20 species, should be greatly reduced. Ha.tcher 4 favored t~e retention of only two 

genera,. Olaosaurus and Tra.chodon, considering that the remaining eight were synonyms of 

T1·achodon. Olaosaurus he would restrict to the single species from the Niobrara formation of 

Kansas. The finding of more perfect material, however, hns shown that several of the species 

formerly referred to Trachodon represent distinct genera and that Hatcher's proposed.reduction 

was too radical. Of the severnl genera established on good specimens it appears very likely 

th~t some will yet prove to be synonyms of earlier-described genera founded on fragmentary 

materiul, but this can be determined. only by careful comparison of all the type specimens. 

Until such a revision is made few· of the earlier de~cribed forms will be of use in correlation or 

in working out the phyletic or other relations of the group. Hatcher was probably correct in 

restricting Olaosaurus to the single species from the Niobrara formation. It is unfortunate, 

however, that his opinion that the. genus Trachodon should include species from the Judith 

River to the close of the Lance has become so widely accepted by vertebrate paleontologists. 

In tho fu·st place, tho type species of the genus ( Trachorlon mirabilis Leidy) came from the 

J·udith River formation and was founded on inadequate 1naterial, consisting of "specimens of 

teeth generaUy v.ery much worn and in a fragmentary condition," with which it is wholly 

impossible positively to identify better specimens discovered subsequently. That Hatcher 

later realized this fact is clearl.y shown by his statement that "Although the trachodonts are 

easily distinguished by their teeth from. the other Dinosauria of "these beds (Judith River), it 

is scarcely possible to identify the various species of this genus or the genera of the family 

from the teeth alone." 5 . 

Even though it may eventually be found that Trachodon can be placed on a sound .footing, 

there is reason for believing that the genus is not present in the Lance, 6 as shown by the less 

number of teeth in all the known specimens from the Judith River, Belly River, and Two 

Medicine formations. 

In the L~nce trachodonts, several complete dentaries of which are included. in the United 

States National Museum collections, the rows of teeth vary from 52 to 57. All the Judith River, 

Belly River, and Two Medicine trachodont dentaries in the collections have fewer rows, varying 

in number from 39 to 46. The same difference exists in the few maxillae available. It thus 

1 Lambe, L. :M., On tho foro limb of a carnivorous dinosaur from tho Belly River formation of Alberta, and a new genus of Ceratopsia from 

the same horizon, with remarks o.a tho integument of some Cretaceous herbivorous dinosaurs: Ottawa Naturalist, vol. 27, pp. 131-135, pl. 14, 

January, 1914. 

I Gilmore, C. W., A now ceratopsian dinos~>ur from tho Upper Cretaceous of Montana, with note on Hypacrosaurus: Smithsonian Misc. Coli., 

vol. 63, No. 3, pp. 1-10, pis. 1-2, 1914. 

a l3rown, :Barnum, Croto.coons correlation in Now Mexico, 'Vyoming, Montana, o.nd Alberta: Geol. Soc. America Bull., vol. 25, p. 374, 1914. 

• Hatcher, J. B., 'l'ho genera and species of the Trachodontido.e (Ho.drosauridae, Claosauridue) Marsh: Carnegie Mus. Annals, vol.1, p. 385,1902. 

& Stanton, T. W., and Hatcher, J. B., Geology and paleontology of the Judith .RiVer beds: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 257, pp. 96-97, 1905. 

8Qi!more, C. W., On the genus Trachodon: Science, new ser., vol. 41, pp. 658-660, 1915. 
6 B~ACHYCERATOPS. 

seems that the earliest known trachodonts, like the more primitive ceratopsians, have fewer 

teeth, so that now it may be safely asserted that one of the marked. phases in the specialization 

of the members of this grot1;p in successive geologic periods is the progressive increase in the 

number of teeth in the dental magazines. 

The genus Trachodon is based on specimens from the Judith River formation, . and its 

s1naller number of teeth would indicate that it did not persist into the later formations. It 

appears to me, therefore, that Trachodon should either be treated as an indeterminate genus or 

at the most should be restricteu to Judith River species. Such restriction would leave the Lance 

specimens now referred to Trachodon without generic designation, unless by a study of the type 

specimens one of the older generic terms can be revived. 

The geologic range of the Trachodontidae is considerably greater than that of the Ceratopsidae, commencing in the Niobrara and continuing through the Judith River, Belly River, Two 

Medicine, Edmonton, and Lance formations. They disappear, like the Ceratopsidae, at the 

close of the Lance. 

Four genera, Hypacrosaurus, Kritosaurus, Stephanosaurus, and Trachodon, are now recognized as occurring in the Judith River and Belly River formations, and two of them, Ilypacroswurus and Stephanosaurus, have been identified in the collection from the Two. Medicine 

formation. Hypacro$aur:us 1 was described originally from the Edmonton of Alberta, Canada, 

and l{ritosaurus 2 from beds in New Mexico described by Brown as the Ojo Alamo formation. 

Brown 3 has recently shown the. generic identity of the Gryposaurus of Lambe, from the Belly 

River, with the Kritosaurus of Brown, and the suggestion is made that as ~'other reptilian 

remains are of the primative facies the Ojo Alamo beds may well be of ·Judith River age." 

In a recent paper 4 Brown has shown that the family Trachodontidae may be divided 

naturally into two groups, those of one having a crested skull and a footed ischium; and those of 

the other lacking the crest and having a slender ischium ·without distal expansion. Members 

of the first group are so far known only from the Belly River, Two Medicine, and Edmonton 

formations, whereas representatives of the second group are present in all formations as well as 

in the Judith River and the Lance. 

Little can be said at this time of the progressive changes that have taken place in the 

structure of the Trachodontidae, though it appears that the dental magazine of the Lance 

trachodonts contains a greater number of teeth than that of the trachodonts from. the Judith 

River, Belly River, and Two Medicine formations. The presence of four digits in the pes of the 

Judith River genus Pteryopelyx would appear to indicate a foot more primitive than that of 

the three-toed Lance trachodonts. · 

Both the theropodous or flesh-eating dinosaurs and the armored dinosaUrs are so little 

known that at present it is impossible to make adequate comparison between the species of 

different horizons. Representatives of the theropodous group, however, are present in aU. the 

formations discussed in this paper, and the study of specimens now at hand will doubtless show 

the progressive changes that have taken place in their skeletal structure and 'thus will"be an 

aid in the future correlation of the separated. formations. 

The rhyncocephalian reptile Ohampsosaurus has a wider geologic range than any other oi the 

extinct reptilian forms, except of course some of the chelonian genera. Remains of Ohampsosaurus have been found in the Judith River, Belly River, Two Medicine, Edmonton, Lance, 

Puerco, and Fort Union formations. It is likely that when better material is known the species 

will be found to vary in successive formations, but this fact can not now be determined. 

The crocodiles are represented in the' Belly River formation by the single identifiable 

genus Leidyosuchus, a genus that continues into the Lance, as shown by the type specimen of 

Leidyosuchus sternbergii from the Niobara County area in. Wyoming. Isolated teeth and bones 

from the Two ~iedicine formation are provisionally identified as pertaining to this genus. 

1 Brown, Barnuin, A new trachodont dinosaur, Hypacrosaurus,from the Edmonton Cretaceous of Alberta: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 32, 

pp. 395-406, 1913. 

2 Brown, Barnum, The Cretaceous Ojo Alamo beds of New Mexico, with description of the new dinosaur Kritosaurus: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

Bull., vol. 28, pp. 267-274, 1910. , 

a Sinclair, \V. J., and Granger, Walter, Paleocene deposits of the San Juan Basin, N.Mex.: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 33, p: 303, 1914. 

4 Brown, Barnum, Cretaceous-Eocene correlation in New Mexico, Wyo~ing, Montana, Alberta: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., vol. 25, pp. 355-380, 1914. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MON';('ANENSIS GILMOR-E. 7 

The-turtles are represented in the collection made in 1913·from the Two Medicine formation 

by only two identifiable specimens. One of these, Basilemys sp., is of interest as having its 

nearest affinity with B. nobilis I-Iay, from the beds in New Mexico to which Brown has applied 

the name Ojo Alamo, thus apparently corroborating the dinosaurian evidence on which the 

Belly River formation was correlated with·the beds at Ojo Alamo. 

The fish Lepisosteus has a wide geologic range and is valueless as a horizon indicator. 

In conclusion it may be briefly stated that the fauna of the Two Medicine formations, as 

represented by this one small collection, is on account of its pri1nitive facies in accord with the 

stratigraphic evidence for the correlation of these beds with the dinosau_r-bearing beds of the 

,Judith River and Belly River formations. Taken as a whole the faunas of the equivalent 

forn111#ons are undoubtedly ancestrally related to those of the Lance, for, with one exception, 

all the fn.milies represented in these older formations are present also in the Lance. 

Notwithstanding the fact that certain of the earlier faunal lists seem to indicate that 

several genera and: species of reptiles persisted from Belly River to Lance time, the evidence 

that has been gradually accumulating in recent years indicates beyond question that the fauna 

of the Judith River and Belly River formations is distinctly more primitive than the related 

forms in the Lance, although a few of the more persistent types, such as OhamP.sosaurus, Leidyosucl~us, and some turtle genera, pass from one formation to the other. 

DESCRIPTlONS; 

F.,~ly CERATOPSIP.~E :Marsh; . :-;· . ,.' ... :• ~ ...... 

.. ~"' -··. '4.. ·•. ... ~ 

Brachyceratops .mqntanenl'is Gilp10re.-

Plat~s:I; III, IV; -~~J.rtfigures 2-9, 117 26; 28~39, 41~7 ... J .. ~. 

13rachyceratopnnontanensis Gilmore, Smithsonian Misc. Coli., vol. 63, No. 3, pp. 1-10, pls. 1-2, 1914. 

·'. 

•. 

Type of g~1i?;is a'(!Al species.-A considerable portion of a disarticulated skull (No. 7951, U. S. N. M.), showing nasals, 

prefrontals, _post!rontals, postorbitals, .premaxillaries, ma:rillaries, lachrymal, alisJ)henoid, and exoccipital. With this 

is provisiop{l.lly associated a fragmentary part of the frill, a right dentary, and a predentary. 

'.fype .~gcality._..:..NE. ! sec. 16, T: 37 N~·, R. 8 W., Milk River, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Teton County, Mont. 

Paraty}?.es.-Rostral and portions of the.premaxillaries.(No. 7952, U.S. N·. M.); sacrum, pelvis, articulated caudal 

series of 50 verteb.r~e. continuous to .the.tip of_.. the tail (No. 7953, U. S. N. M.), with which are provisionally associated 

dorsal verteprae.and ribs;· tibia, fibula, and partly articulated, hind foot from the left side, consisting of an astragulus, 

calcaneum; a11d 2 tarsals of the distal,"row;4 metatarsals and a.portionof a fifth, and 11 phalanges (No. 7957, U. S. N. M.). 

Paratype l6C(llity.-Same as that of the type: 

Generic and sp.ecific characters:-Typically of small size. Skull with facial portion much 

abbreviated and deep vertically.. Supr~orbital horn cores small and firmly united with pqstorbitals. Nasal horn core outgrowth from nasals, large, slightly recurved, laterally compressed, 

and divid~d long~tudinally by median suture. Frill with comparatively sharp median crest, 

fenestrae apparei1tly of small size, and entirely within the median element. Border of frill 

scalloped but without separate marginal' ossifications. Dentition as compared with Triceratops 

greatly reduced. Five digits in the pes, .the fifth being vestigial. Ilium with greatly expanded 

anterior blade that curves strongly outward. 

The specimens.-The specimens of Brachyceratops on which the present description and 

restoration are based were found on Milk River within a small rectangular area of about 6 by 7 

feet. · (See Pl. II, 0.) With the exception of two hind feet mid three.series of caudal vertebrae, 

one of which (No. 7953; Pl. III, A p. 20) was· entire and· articulated with the sacrum and 

closely associated with the pelvic bones and femora, all the skeletal parts were disassociated 

'and too closely intermingled to show to which· individuals. they belonged. . 

The: proper· association of' the bones of the different individuals. was rendered still. more 

difficult by the fact that all the specimens were of approximately the same size. Comparison· of 

po_rtions of no less. than nine ischia·showed· that at least five individuals were present, and it 

is quite possible·that there were one or two 'more. In the-type (the disarticulated skull, No. 

7951) the sutures.interlocked so .perfectly as to leave no doubt that the assembled elements 

belonged·to the.same cranium. 
8 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

OSTEOLOGY OF BRACHYCERATOPS. 

THE SKULL. 

General features.-When found the skull was entirely disarticulated, but the excellent 

preservation of the bone and the absence of distortion rendered the assembling and correct 

articulation of the scattered elements comparatively easy. This specimen is of the utmost 

importance in the proper interpretation of the cranial elements, especially of those parts of the 

ceratopsian cranium that are now somewhat in controversy. 

The type of the genus and species, as was stated, is small. This statement is true so far as 

applied to the known specimens, but it should be added that to some extent the small size of 

these specimens may be due to immaturity. The open sutures of the skull, sacrum, and verte- _ 

brre all testify to the youth of the individuals. 

The facial portion of the skull is greatly abbreviated, as compared with that of the ceratopsians of the Lance formation. (See fig. 2.) It is to this shortening that the generic name refers. 

FIGURE 2.-Skull of Brachyceratops montanensis Gilmore. Type. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. One-third natural size. Lateral view. d, Dentary; 

f, fenestra in frill; if, infraorbital foramen; inp, interparietal; j, jugal; l, lachrymal; mx, maxillary; n, nasal; nh, nasal horn cores; no, anterior 

narial opening; o, orbit; os, ossicle on top of nasal horn core; pd, predentary; pf, prefrontal; pmx, premaxillary; po, postorbital; poh, post- , 

orbital born core; r, rostral; s,·suture separating halves of p.asal horn; sq, squamosal; so, sutural border on prefrontal for small supraorbital; 

ss, sutural surfaces for squamosal; stf,supratemporal fossa. 

The narial opening, as in other known Judith River and Belly River forms, is well forward and 

under thenasal horn, whereas in the later and more highly specialized Triceratops this orifice is 

entirely posterior to that horn. The distance between the nasal and supraorbital horns is exceedingly short, owing largely to the shortened nasal bones, the great fore and aft development 

of the basal portion of the nasal horn, and the forward position over the orbits of the small brow 

horns. 

The e~act pitch of the frill portion in_ relation to the anterior part of the skull can not be 

positively determined. In figure 2 it has been placed in accordance with the evidence of articulated skulls. 

An entirely new phase of nasal horn development and one which appears to be unique 

among dinosaurs appears in the longitudinal separation of the horn core into two halves by the 

nasal suture. The nasal horn itself appears to be an outgrowth from the nasal bones instead of 

having originated from a separate center of ossification, as in the more specialized Triceratops. . / 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. g· 

It appears quite probable that some of the described Belly River species will be found to show a 

similar mode of nasal horn development when juvenile specimens are found. 

There is no trace of an epinasal bone such as was found by Lambe 1 in Eoceratops, and the 

curved groove on the Brachyceratops horn which suggested to Lambe the upper boundary of the 

epinasal ossification appears to be only one of the vascular grooves . 

. Nasals.-The nasals are especially deep and massive, owing to the development on their 

superior surfaces of the nasal horn cores. Posteriorly they present a pointed process with a 

beveled underln.pping !;!urface for contact with the prefrontals (the frontals and lachrymals of 

authors). Laterally they send down a deep extension to meet the premaxillary, and anteriorly 

the arched ventral 'Qorders of the nasal bones from the upper half of the boundary of the narial 

orifice. Anteriorly they send out vertically flattened processes (p, fig. 4) between which are 

received the ascending processes of the premaxillae. These nasal processes appear to end about 

32 millimeters in _advance of the forward line of the horn core, so that the upper outline of the 

beak is formed largely by the premaxillaries. The horn has a broad fore and aft extent at its 

FIGURE 3.-Skull or Brachyceratops montanensis Gilmore. Type. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. One-third natural size. Superior view. f, Fenestra in 

frill; fo, postfrontal foramen; inp, interparietal; n, nasal; nh, nasal horn core; pf, prefrontal; po, postorbital; poh, postorbital horn core; ptf, 

postfrontal; s, suture representing halves of the nasal horn core; so, sutural border for missing supraorbital bone; sq,squamosal; .~tf, supratemporal fossa. 

base but tapers sharply to a blunt, moderately high point. Transversely it is much compressed 

at the base, though inclined to expand somewhat toward the summit. The horn as a whole is 

directed somewhat forward, but the curve of the posterior side is such as to give the impression 

that its upper part is slightly recurved. The surfaces of the upper h~lf are roughened and 

grooved by vascular impressions. 

On the left half of the nasal horn, at the apex, a small, flattened oval ossicle (os, fig. 4) rests 

in a shallow depression or pit. This ossicle is distinct from the underlying bone and may represent the incipient horn of later ceratopsians, in which it is known to be developed from a center 

of ossification distinct from the nasal bones. 

Prefrontals.-The prefrontals (the frontals and lachrymals of authors) are deeply emarginate anteriorly and receive between them the pointed posterior ends of the nasals. 

The prefrontal is a quadrangular plate of bone diagonally placed so as to fill the interspace 

between the postfrontal and nasal bones. Its thickened posterior end contributes to the inner 

part of the anterior boundary of the orbit. (See o, fig. 5.) Near the posterior termination on the 

1 Lambe, JJ. M., On Eoceratops canadt!nsis gen. nov:, with remarks on other genera of Cretaceous horned di~osaurs: Canada Geol. Survey Mus. 

Bull. 12, p. 7, 1915. 
10 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

external side a narrow vertical sutural surface (so, fig. 2) was for the articulation of the small 

supraorbital bone, which is missing. This element. would have completed the thickened orbital 

border which projects immediately in front of the eye and which forms so conspicuous a feature 

of the ceratopsian skull. On the upper posterior end of the prefrontal a pointed peglike projection is received in a corresponding pit in the anterior border of the postfrontal, thus strengthening the union of these two bones. The prefrontal is just barely in contact with the postorbital 

at the base of the postorbital horn core. . 

.Posifrontals.-The true extent of the postfrontals in the ceratopsian skull is here correctly · 

determined for the first. time. Authorities have heretofore c.onsidered the postfrontal as extending from the median line outward and including all of that portion of _the skull here designate~ as postfrontal and postorbital. (See fig .. 3.) In this specimen a longitudinal suture just 

internal to the base of the· sl!praorbital horn core divides the so-cf,l,lled postfrontal into two 

FIGURE 4.-Nasalsand nasal horn cores of Brachyceratopsmontanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S: N.M. One-half natural size. A, Side view; B,front 

view. c, Surface for contact with the premaxillafies; /,surface for articulation of prefrontal; no, anterior nasal opening; os, bony ossicle on 

top of horn core; p, anterior process of nasal; po, orifice for superior processes of premaxillaries; s, suture separating two halves of nasal hom . 

. distinct elements. The inner portion all paleontologists agree in ·calling the postfrontal;· the 

outer appears without question to represent the postorbital. Von Huene 1 in 1912 regarded the 

portion forming the posterior boundary of the.orbit in a skull of Triceratops prorsus as representing the whole of the postorbital, but the writer questions the correctness of this determination 

in the genus Triceratops. · . 

In Brachyceratops ·the postfrontal is a somewhat irregularly triangular bone, longer than 

wide, which unites by suture on the median line with its fellow of the opposite side. (See fig. 6.) 

Anteriorly the combined postfrontals terminate in a pointed projection iilterposed between 

the deeply emarginate posterior borders of the prefrontals. Posteriorly and on either side of the 

postfrontal foramen these bones articulate by suture with the median element of the frill. A 

toothed external border unites with the postorbital. Beginning between the horn cores the 

median upper surfaces of the postfrontals are angularly depressed, gradually deepening and 

widening .transversely as they approach the postfrontal foramen, much as in Styracosaurus 

albertensis Lambe.2 

1 Huene, Friedrich von, Beitriige zur Kenntnis des Ceratopsidenschiidels: Neues Jahrb., 1912, Band 2, fig. 3, p. 151. 

2 Lambe, L. M., A'new genus and species ofCeratopsiafrom~the Belly River formation of Alberta: Ottawa Naturalist, vol. 27, No.9, pl. 2 B, 1913. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONT'ANENSIS GILMORE. 11 

The relation. of the prefrontals and postfrontals in Brachyceratops is unusual, for in most 

·dinosaurian crania the frontal is interposed between them, the relation shown in Brachyceratops 

· being found elsewhere, so far as the writer is aware, only in Stegosaurus among the Dinosauria and 

.in son1e of the Permian Reptilia. Von Huene has shown 

(correctly? the .writer believes) that the frontal in Triceratops 

J1as b~en entirely excluded from the dorsal surface of 

the skull. 

Postorbital.-The postorbital gives rise to the small supra-

·orbital horn core and forms nearly one-half of the orbital 

border. Posterior to this horn, which is situated on the 

·extreme anterior end, the bone flares into a wide expanded 

portion, 1nuch deflected externally, with a curved posterior 

'border, the inner half forming a portion of the outer boundary FIGURE 5.-Right prefrontal of Brachyceratops . montanensis. Type. No.7951, U.S. N.M. Three-

·Of the supratemporal fossa and the outer half having an fourths natural size. Internal view. z, Side opd 1 · t 1 d f t · 1 t · · th th 1 posed to the lacrymal; na, side articulating with 

·un er app1ng SU ura e ge or ar lCU a lOll Wl e squamosa · nasal; o, orbital border; pf, side articulating 

'The straight inferior edge meets the jugal, which is missing with .the right postfrontal; so, supraorbital 

in this specimen. border. 

. :FIOURE6.-Postfrontals and prefrontals of Brachyceratops montanensis. Typo. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. One-half natural size. 

A, Superior view; B, inferior view. l, Pit for reception o! peg 

on tho lachrymal; na, notch between profrontalswhichreceives 

posterior ends of nasals; pj, prefrontal; plf, postfrontal foramen; 1)0, postorbital border; poj, postfrontal; so, supraorbital 

bo1·dor. 

The thickened anterior border shows a sutural 

edge for union with the missing supraorbital bone. 

On the median inferior surface is a shallow pit which 

receives the outer end of the alisphenoid, as it does in 

Stegosaurus, Camptosaurus, and Triceratops. (See7 

also alsp, fig. 7 .) 

Immediately above the orbit on the anterior part 

of the postorbital there rises a low horn core, whose 

upper extremity is obtusely rounded longitudinally 

(see poh, fig. 2) but is sharply pointed transversely. 

The external surface of this horn is plane, the inter~al 

strongly convex,· with the.antero-posterior diameter 

greatly exceeding the transverse. Its total height 

above the orbit is 31 millimeters. These horn cores 

appear to be outgrowths f;rom the postorbital bones 

unless they include a posterior supraorbital element 

such as has recently been found in the skull of Stegosaurus .

1 The type specinien shows no trace of such 

an element, but its possible existence again raises the 

question of the proper designation of these horns, 

which have been called successively postfrontal and 

supraorbital horn cores. If they are outgrowths from 

the postorbital bone, as the present specimen appears 

to indicate, postorbital horn core would be the more 

appropriate designation. 

Dermosupraoccipital.-The frill is represented by 

the median elements from two individuals. (Nos . 

7950 and 7951, U.S.N. M.) Portions of each are 

missing, but the better-preserved specimen'is provisionally associated with the type as shown in figures 

2and3. Thisassociation,however,isonlyprovisional 

in so far as it applies to the actual individual, for 

·without question all the bones beleng to the same kind of an animal. ' 

I G ilmoro, C. W., Osteology of the armored Dinosauria in the United States National Museum, with special reference to the genus Stegosaurua.· 

·u.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 89, p. 33, 1914. 

54025°-17-2 
·I 

12 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

The dennosupraoccipital or interparietal, for as clearly shown by Hay 1 JLnd Von H.uene z 

it can not be the parietal, is united by suture with the anterior portion of the skull at the postfrontal foramen. The median part of the interparietal is sharply ridged except at the posterior 

extremity, ~here it flattens into a thinner portion with an emarginate median border .. Between 

the fenestrae the median bar, in cross section, is triangular. (See fig. 8.) The superior surface 

of this ridge forward.of its narrowest part between the fenestrae presents low longitudinal sweilso 

FIGURE 7.-Right postorbital of Brachyceratops montanensis. 

Type. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. One-halCnatural size. Internal 

view. alsp, Pit for reception of outer end of alisphenoid; j, border in contact with the jugal; ptj, border in articulation with 

the postfrontal;· o, orbital border; so, surface for articulation 

of supraorbital bone; sq, border for squamosal articulation; st[, 

free border contributing to the boundary of the supratemporal 

fossa. 

in'gs arranged one in front of the other. Proximally 

the median portion is greatly compressed transversely into a short neck, forward of which it again 

widens into a much depressed end that articulates 

laterally with the postfrontals and with thmn forn1s 

the upper boundaries of the postfrontal foramen 

(jo, fig. 3). Between these two lateral portions the 

median surface is deeply concave and slopes down·-

ward to a heavy truncated border that in all prob-

. ability was suturally united with the parietals (ps, 

fig. 9). In Brachyceratops at least, the parietal was 

entirely hidden in the· dorsal aspect, and it is presumed that similar conditions obtained in Triceratops, although Von Huene was inclined to regard a 

small portion' of the median p'art of the. frill posterior to the postfrontal foramen in that genus as 

being ·parietal. 

The bone surrounding the frill fenestrae is ' 

very thin, but it thickens toward the lateral free 

edges and posteriorly. Proximally it remains thin 

where it forms the floor of the supratemporal fossae but thickens toward the sutural border for 

the squamosal (sq, fig. 9). The exact shape and extent of the frill fenestrae can not be accurately 

determined from the available specimens, but it is readily apparent that they were comparatively 

small. The surfaces of the frill are relatively smooth and lack the ramifying system of vascular 

grooves of the later ceratopsjans. There were no epoccipital bones on the margins of the frill, 

but a series of prominences on either side of the median emargination give the periphery a 

peculiar scalloped effect much like that imparted by the separate ossi- cu 

fications of the Triceratops frills. · 

Laterally the median portion unites with the squamosal by a 

straight sutural edge that is directed forward and inward toward the 

center of the skull. A triangular outward projection with an upper 

striated surface at the anterior termination of the squamosal suture 

represents a surface that was overlapped by the articulated squamosals FIGuRE s.-eross section of der-

(ss, fig. 2; sq, fig. 9). A low, sharp, diagonally directed ridge· apparently mosupraoccipital of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7950, U.S. indicates the posterior overlap of the squamos~l. The squamosals are N.M. Three-rourthsnaturalsize. 

missing but appear, as in other primitive ceratopsians, to have been Taken posterior to middle of the 

bone. a, Crest of the. frill. short and broad. (See fig. 10.) , 

LachrymaL--Since the first description and illustrations of the species were published 3 a 

portion of the left lachrymal has been recognized, and it is shown in the corrected drawing of 

the skull (fig. 2). · 

In the type specimen only the orbital border remains, but this shows the orbit to be n1ore 

nearly circular than was ~ndicated in the first restoration of the skull. It articulates with the 

1 Hay, 0. P ., On the skull and the brain of Triceratops, with notes on the brain cases of Iguanodon and Jfegalosaurus: U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc., 

vol. 36, p. 97, 1909. · 

2Huene, Friedrich von, Beitrage zur Kenntnis des Ceratopsidensch1idels: Neues Jahrb., 1912, Band ·2, pp. 15Q-156, figs. 3, 4,·5, and 6. 

a Gilmore, C. 'N ., A new ceratopsian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Montana, with note on Hypacrosaurus: Smithsonian Misc. Coli., 

vol. 63, No.3, 1914. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMOR.E. I 13 

prefrontal on the outer border by a short, blu~1t, peglike projection which is received in a 

pit on the outer anterior· border of the prefrontal. It would be scarcely in contact, if at 

uJl, with the supraorbital bone, which is missing in this specimen. It also shows that the 

suprnorbital is triangular, the posterior end being especially heav:y where it abuts against the 

postorbitnl at the base. of the posto'rbi~al hoi·n core. The ~orward 'extension of the lachrymal 

is 1nissing .. 

Alisphenoid.-The alisphenoid of the left side is preserved, but like all other elen1ents of the 

skull, was disarticulated in this specin1en. In outline it is subtriangular, resen1bling closely the 

hmnologous elmnent in the Triceratops skull. The outer extremity has a smooth-finished rounded 

Fwum~ 9.-Dormosupmoccipital or interparietal of Bracl!yceratops .montanensis. No. 7950, U.S.N. M. One-half natural size. A, Dorsal view; 

B, ventral view. 1>f-~, Borders that united with the pqstrrontals; ps?, borders that united with the parietal; sq, surface for overlap of squamosal. 

end that is received in a pit on the ventral surface of the postorbital just posterior to the orbit at 

the base of the horn core. Posteriorly it presents a heavy sutural border that united with the 

prootic. Its inner portion is• hollowed out and fonns the wall of the portion of the brain case 

that lodges the cerebral hmnisphere. As in T. sulcatus (No. 2416, U. S. N. M.), it has on 

its inner dorsal surface a sutural surface with which the parietal united. As in Stegosaurus, 

Camptosaurus, Trachodon, and Triceratops, the alisphenoid in Brachyceratops fonns a portion 

of the anterior and inner boundaries of the suprate1nporal fossa,. The border forming the 

houndn,ry of the fonunen ovn.le is broken in the specin1en, but no doubt it is present in a perfect 

bone. 
14 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

Exoccipital.-The front side of a somewhat fragmentary bone that is regarded as being the 

exoccipital from the left side of the skull is shown in figure 11. It was found in the float at 

I 

8 

some dis_tance from the type specimen, but· 

it is quite possible that it pertain,s to that 

individual. 

The bone is flattened and platelike and 

has a broadly rounded external end or paraoccipital process that unites with the 

squamosal (~q, :fig. 11). The inner end is 

cut off obliquely, with a toothed sutural 

border which articulates with the ·supraoccipital (so, fig. 11). On the lower internal 

angle of this end, seen best in posterior 

aspect, is a smooth concave surface which 

represents the upper portion of the exoccipital contribution to the boundary of . 

the foramen magnum. The exoccipital 

of Brachyceratops corroborates Huene's 

determination 1 that in ~he Ceratopsia the 

supraoccipital enters the formation of. the 

foramen magnum, as it does in many 

FIGURE 10.-Dermosupni.occipitalof .Monocloniuscrassus. Type. No. 3398• other dinosaurs, and is not excluded from American Museum of Natural History. One-eighth n~tural size. · Supe- rior view. sqs, Surface for articulation with squamosal; pjs, surface for it by the ex occipital, as determined by 

postfrontal. (After Hatcher.) · earlier authorities. 

The pedi~al portion for articulation with the 

basioccipital is missing. On the anterior side, near 

the inter.nal end, it is suturally roughened and diagonally ridged, presenting a surface for the overlapping 

of the out:wardly directed process of the prootic (pro, 

fig. 11), as in Triceratops, Camptosaurus, and Stego-

. saurus. On the posterior side, near the lower border, 

is a sharp longitudinal ridge which fades out before 

sg 

pro 

· · d h FIGURE .. ll.-LeftexocclpitalofrBrachyceratopsmontancnsis:· reaching the external end; below th1~ r1 ge, at t e Type. No.795I,U.S.N.M. one-halfnaturalsiz~. pro, 

inner end, the entrance to the foramen ovalis OCCUrS Sutural surface ~or prootic; so, sutural borderforsupraocexactly as it does in Triceratops serratus Marsh, as cipitat; sq, end wh~ch meets ~he squamosal. 

· FIGURE 12.-Left premaxillary of Brachyceratops montanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S.N.M. One-halfnaturalsize. m,x, Border uniting with the 111axillary; n, border uniting with the nasal; no, anterior narial opening; n, surface over which the rostral laps. 

determined by Hay. 2 The greatest length of this bone 

is 102 millimeters. 

Premaxillaries.-The premaxillaries of · Brachyceratops are less massivE} and lack the lateral foramina 

found in those of Triceratops. They are compressed, 

thin bones and are closely applied to one another along 

the PJ.edian line on the anterior half. Posteriorly they 

send backward and upward diverging processes with 

expanded posterior extremities that wedge between the 

maxillary and the descending branch of the nasaL 

The median superior botder of this part of the premaxillary is transversely rounded and forms the lower 

boundary of the anterior narial opening (no, fig. 12). 

All the premaxillae in the collection were badly mutilated before fossilization, and none of them have their 

anterior ascending portions complete. The best-preserved one (see fig. 12) exhibits a thin plateli~e ascending 

1 Huene, Friedrich von, Beitriige zur Kenntnis des Ceratopsidenschadels: Neues Jahrb., 1912, Band 2, pp. 148-150, fig. 2. 2 Hay, 0. P ., On the skull and· the brain of Triceratops, with notes on the brain cases of Iguanodon and .Megalosaurus: U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc., 

vol. 36, p. 101, pl. 1, fig. 1, 1909. · 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 15 

process that is closely opposed to the one on the opposite side, the two rising to the nasals, 

where they are received in the deep groove (see fig. 4) at the base of the nasal horn core. It 

see1ns quite possible that the bony septum extends down farther into the narial opening from 

the base of the nasal bones than has been indicated in the restoration of the skull (fig. 2), resem·· 

bling in this respect Styracosaurus (Monoclonius) sphenocerus (Cope). 

There is no indication of an interpremaxillary fontanelle, as in Triceratops, and it appears 

probnble that the opening through the premaxillaries (see fig. 2) would, if perfect, be a thin 

septum of bone extended from the narial border to the thickened anterior border over which the 

rostral articulates. The rostral does not extend so far back as in Triceratops, and the premaxillary therefore contributes more to the superior borders of the beak than it does in that genus. 

Palatine foramina are also wanting in this specimen, though they are conspicuous in the palatal 

surface of all Lance ceratopsians. 

Maxillaries.-The maxillnries nre 

of irregular triangulnr outline, with 

alveoli in the functional row for 20 

teeth-1nuch fewer thnn in Triceratops, 

which hns 40 alveoli. In the specimen . 

all the functional teeth have fallen out, 

but two or more germ teeth. remain . 

and give son1e idea of their chnracter. 

Posteriorly the mnxillary is divided into 

two branches, nn ascending process that 

nrttculates with the jugal (j.s, fig. 13), 

and an inferior horizontal branch that 

is relatively heavier than in Triceratops. 

On its superointernal side a longitudinal 

roughened border is overlapped by an 

anterior process frmn the pterygoid and 

is in contact with the palatine. Anteriorly. and superiorly the 1naxillary has 

nJl extended articulation with the premaxillary (pmx, fig. 13) .. Between the 

premaxillnry and jugal articulntions the I' 

l1tchryn1al and possibly the nasal were 

in contact with tl~is bone. (See fig. 2.) 

p 

A 

B On the anterointernnl side a hori- FrouRE 13.-Left maxillary of Brachyceratops montanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S. 

zontn,l plate extends inwnrd, meeting a N.M. One-halfnaturalsize. A,Externalview;B,internalview. a,Anteriorend; 

similnr projecting plnte from the oppo- ab, alveolar border; d/, dental foramina; if, infraorbital foramen; js, articulating 

surface for ju'gal; 11, posterior end; pmx, groove for articulation with premaxillary. 

site maxillary on the median line, the . 

inferior sides forming a portion of the forwnrd palatal surface, as in Triceratops. The anterior 

hulf of the extended surfnce is perforated by a number. of foramina, irregularly placed. On 

the internal side a curv~d row of 20 dental foramina (dj, fig. 13, B), one to each dental groove, 

extends the entire length of the dental magazine. 

The infrnorbitnl forame.n (ij, fig. 13) occupies approximately the same position as in the 

Triceratops n1axillary. The dental series occupies a longitudinal space of l55 millimeters . 

. lnternnlly t.he dental border "is slightly concave from end to end. 

The rostral.-The rostral is missing from the type, but is present in a slightly smaller 

·individual (No. 7952, U. S. N. M.). (See fig. 14.) In general aspect it resembles the rostral 

of T·riceratops but has a less curved anterior border. Externally the surfaces are pitted and 

grooved and in life were doubtless covered by a horny sheath. 

Predentary.-The predentary (in fig. 15), except .:for its much smaller size, is indistinguishable :frmn that of Triceratops. It is to be distinguished :from the predentary of Brachyceratops 

da.lwsoni (La1nbe) by the upward-turned apex of the anterior end. 
16 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

Dentary.-The dentary 'is stout, gradually narrowing vertically toward the front, the 

anterior end being especiaily depressed and unusually broad transversely and being nearly at 

right angles to the posterior portion .. Near the posterior end on the external surface a stout 

coronoid process (c, fig. 16) extends well above the dental border. It is compressed transversely 

but widens anteroposteriorly with a hooked forward process, as in other primitiye ceratopf:}ians. 

From its base a low, broad ridge extends forward at about midheight along the outer side of the 

s 

P·-

A 

s 

dentary. Above and below this ridge the outer surface retreats obliquely inward. 

Viewed from above (see fig. 17, B) the dental border is 

straight but is obliquely placed in relation to the lower portion-that is, it passes from the .inner posterior margin to 

the outer anterior margin of the jaw~ Beneath the coronoid 

process there is a de~p mandibular fossa which extends forward about one-third the length of the dentary. On the 

p ir.mer side is the· usual row of foramina (dj, fig; 17) leading 

int9 the dental chamber. The exact number of alveoli can 

not be determined, but the tooth series is relatively shorter· 

than in either Oeratops or Triceratops, probably not more FIGURE 14.-Rostralof Brachyceratopsmontanensis. . 

Paratype. No. 7952, u.s. N. M. One-half nat- than 17 dental groove~ being present. 

ural size. A, Side view;,B, posterior view. s, Teeth.-The dentition is represented by onl'y a few germ Superior process; p, posterior processes. teeth, the functional ones having fallen out before the jaws 

were entombed. That the teeth of .Brachyceratops in both upper and lower jaws are much 

less numerous than those of Triceratops is indicated by a study of the maxillae and dentary. 

In Brachyceratops the maxillae have alveoli for 20 teeth and the dentary for 16 or 17, whereas 

in Triceratops the maxillae have more than 40, and the dentary 30 or more. 

In the left maxillary of the type specimen the third tooth from the front is retained in 

position in the alveolus. (See fig. 18.) It is a young tooth and not fully erupted .. A longitudinal keel divides its external s:urface into two unequal portions, the 

larger being anterior. The point of the crown posterior to the external 

keel is broken so that the contour of the crown is not known, but 

doubtless it is more pointed than is indicated in the drawing. The 

anterior border is finely serrated. On the inner side is a heavy keel, 

more centrally placed than that on the opposite side. 

The lower dentition is represented by the crowns of two germ teeth 

(t, fig. 17) attached to the dentary. These germ teeth have a thin but 

very high median keel on the internal side. (See fig. 19.) The crown 

is pointed, as in all unworn ceratopsian teeth and its borders are serrated, those of the anterior border being finer than those of the posterior 

border'. The alveolar border of the dentary measures 106 millimeters 

and the maxillary 155 millimeters. A detached tooth, supposed to per~ 

tain to the type, is shown in figure 20. 

S t l 1'. Th t 1 f ( tl' fi 2 3) FIGURE15 -PredentaryofBrachy· , upra empora Jossae.- e supra empora ossae Su, gs. , ccratops monta7.1-ensi's. Type. 

open widely behind, as in all Edmonton and Belly River ceratopsians; No. 7951, u.s. N. M. one-half 

These larQ'e excavations extend forward beneath the postorbital and naturalsize. Superiorview. a, '-' Anterior end; p, posterior end; postfrontal and laterally at its exit beneath the squamosal.· These i,inferiorprocessesthatunderlap 

three bones form the roof as it were over the fossa, the upper b01~ndaries the dentary. 

of the fossa ~xit being formed by their sharp overhanging edges. The posterior floor of this 

fossa is formed by the smooth bone of the dermosupraoccipital or interparietal. 

Hay 1 dissents from the generally accepted determination that these lateral openings in 

the ceratopsian skull represent the supratemporal fossae. He says: "It is difficult to under1 Hay, 0. P., On the skull and the brain of .Triceratops, with notes on the brain cases of Iguanodon and .ltfegalosaurus: U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. 36, pp. 'J7, 98; 1909. • 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 17 

stand how these bones became 'modified in such a way as to transfer the supratemporal fossae 

behind the paraoccipital processes of the exoccipitals. * * * These passages must represent the post temporal fossae." l-Ie then. proceeds to show that" the two supratemporal fossae 

hn,ve been pushed into one at the midline," having their exit through what other authorities 

have designated · the postfrontal 

:formnen. 

Th.e position of the posterior 

exi·t of the supratemporal fossae 

behind the paraoccipital processes 

appears to be explained by the .unusual posterior winglike developInent of the postorbital, which roofs 

the top of this fossa and thus carries 

its external exit back to the posterior free edge of that bone. 

Moreover, did they represent the 

post-temporal· openings their exit 

would be below not above the 

dermosupraoccipital portion of the 

FIGURE 16.-Dentaryof Brachyceratops montanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S. N.l\L Onehalf natural size. External view. c, Coronoid process; m, ment'al foramen; sp, sur-· 

face for overlap or predentary. 

skull. That the vertical portion of the supratemporal fossa in the ceratopsian skull sustains 

its· usual relations to the surrounding elements is clear. It has been 'determined that the 

alisphenoid in Triceratops· and Brachyceratops has the same position and articulates with 

pd 

A 

pd 

· the same elements as in other 

dinosaurian skulls (Stegosaurus, 

Camptosaurus, Diplodocus, Trachodon, Allosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus). In other words, in 

all these forms the alisphenoid 

forms the wall of a portion of 

the brain case, turning outward 

and uniting at the external end 

with the. postorbital and articulating posteriorly with the 

prootic and thus always forming 

the lower anterior boundnry of 

the supratemporal fossa. If this 

fossa were continued upward in 

the ceratopsian skull it would 

op'en in its usual position on the 

superior surface of the skull at 

the posterior base of the postorbital horn core, and thus 

would be entirely in front of the 

paraoccipital processes; but, as 

stated, the roofing over of this 

B a region by the ove~lying bones J~IOURE 17.-Dontary of Brachyceratops montanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. One_ f carries its exit. ar posterior. hulf natural size. A, Viewed internally; B, viewed from above. a, Alveolus; ab, alveolar 

border; c, coronoid process; df, dental foramina; pd, border for predentary; t, crown of an The modifications found in 

unused tooth (soo fig. 19)· the ceratopsian !?kull are greater 

perhaps than in any other known group of reptiles, living or extinct. The chief specialization, 

as has been so clearly stated by Hatcher, is in the ''direction of affording increased protection 

and in the development of more efficient organs for procuring food." The inclosed and compact 

nature of the skull was of the greatest value as a means of protection, and it contrasts strongly 

'' 
18 BRACHYCERATOPS_-

with the open structure of most other dinosaurian skulls. These modifications have led to a. 

rearrangement of the elements of the cranium, that until interpreted is as confusing as it 

is unusual. The bones of the skull become coossified early in life and thus still further add to 

the difficulties of interpreting their relationships. . 

The fortunate discovery of the skull of this juvenile specimen of Brachycera'tops, taken in 

connection with the studie~ of Hay and Von Huene, clears up many of the doubtful points. 

relating to the c~anial anatomy that were so puzzling to 'earlier investigators. It now appears. 

that the prefrontals and postfrontals, which in the normal reptilian cranium are lateral to the· 

parietals .and frontals,., have in the ceratopsian skull pushed upward and inward above those= 

bones, completely covering their dorsal aspect. · 

That the postfrontals were formerly separated is indicated in the Judith River and Belly 

River ceratopsians by the noncoalescence of their posterior horders, which in the later members of the Lance are always ankylosed. This brings up the question of the function of the 

"pineal fontanelle" of Marsh; the "postfrontal foramen" of Hatcher; the "postfrontal fontanelle" of Lull; the "supratemporal fossae 11 of Hay; and the "pseudopineal foramen" of 

I-Iuene. All' authorities, I think, are now agreed. that it is not a pineal foramen and that 

it can not represent the combined supratemporal fossae as interpreted by Hay. The· 

tern1 "postfrontal foramen" is perhaps-the most appropriate designation, for it is not, as sug~ 

gested by Lull/ in any sense analogous to the fontanelle of human anatomy. Lull appears to· 

A B 

FI.GURE 18. FIGURE 19. FIGURE 20. 

FIGURE 18.-Third upper tooth of Brachyceratops montanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. Twice natural size. External view. Found in. 

place in the right maxillary. 

FIGURE 19.-Unworn lower tooth of.Brachyceratops montanensis. Type. No. 7951, U.S.N. M. Twice natural size. Internal view. Found in. 

place in the right dentary. (See t, fig. 17.) 

FIGURE 20.-Detached tooth of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7951(?), U.S.N. M. Twice natur~lsize. A, External view; B, internal view. 

be right, however, in saying that this opening transmits neither nerves nor blood vessels. It. 

is probably only an opening not yet roofed by bone; in other words, the coalescell:ce of the· 

postfrontals with the dermosupraoccipital, which commenced prior to Two Medicine time had 

not been perfected in Lance time except in an occasional individual. 

Measurements of the skull.-The following measurements, actual and estimated, were 

obtained from the type specimen: 

Skull: Millimeters. 

Greatest length, about ..................... --- .. -·--- .. -------------------------....... 565 

Greatest breadth, estimated ...................................... - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 

Expanse of frontal region at base of brow horn cores .......... -- ...... -..... -..... - . - . - - . . . . . 90 

· Greatest width of nasals ...................................... -- ..... -- ... -.............. -. 58 

Length of interparietal along median line ...... _ ................... -.... -.... --............ . 315 

Height of nasal horn core above border of narial orifice ..... : .. -- ...... -......... -........ --. 125 

Greatest width of postfrontals ................................ -...... -- .......... -..... -.... 80 

Greatest length of combined postfrontals and prefrontals .................. -... -.... -..... - . . 126 

Breadth between center of orbits. __ ................. -..... : .. -..................... -..... 130 

Postorbital horn cores at base: 

Anteroposterior C.iameter ..... _ .................... -........ -.... -.... -........ .- . . . . . . . . 34 

Transverse diameter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Length of postorbital from front to back................................................... 112 

Horizontal diameter of orbit ............................................... -... - . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

Nasal horn cores at base: 

Anteroposterior diameter .................... - -... - -..... -.. - -.. - -.. - . - -.. - -... - . -.. - . - 90 

Transverse diameter .. _ ....................... -..... -..... -...... -..... - . - . -.... - -.. - 41 

Height above nasal orifice ................. -............. -...... -.......................... 127 

1 Lull, R. S., The Ceratopsia: U.S. Geol. Survey Mon. 49, p. 24, footnote, 1907. 
BRACHYCERATOPS. MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 19 

THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN. 

Gener,al features.-The vertebral column of Brachyceratops in front of the sacrum is known 

only from dissociated centra a~d neural processes, none of which were found in sequential 

position. Presumably, however, it consists as in Triceratops of 22 vertebrae, 8 in the neck and 

14 in the thoracic region. The remainder of the vertebral column is known from specimen 

No. 795·3 .and comprises the sacrum and a complete articulated series of caudal vertebrae, the 

first complete tail of a ceratopsian dinosaur to be found. This material is supple1llented by 

articulated portions of two other tails from the same fossil deposit. The vertebral formula 

may be tentatively given as C 8 ~' D 14 ~' S 6, C 50. 

Oervicals.-The cervical region is represented in the collection by a single neural process 

(see fig. 21), which evidently pertained to one of the posterior cervicals and is complete except 

for the extremity of the spine. The arch is articulated with the centrum by heavy expanded 

pedicles. The neural canal is large. The diapophyses, which are heavy and extend outward 

'horizontally from the side of the arch, are high up on the side of and somewhat anterior to 

the neural process. They are flattened an~eroposteriorly but expanded dorsoventrally. The 

posterior zygapophyses would overhang the end of the centrun1. The neural spine rises almost 

vertically and is n1uch narrower fore and aft than any of the succeeding dorsals. 

None of the detached centra can be attributed to the cervical region, for none show a capitular 

f11cet on the side for the articulation of the cervical rib. In Triceratops it is known from an 

articulated presacral series that this facet does not change its 

position on the centrum to the side of the arch until the third 

dorsal is reached. The process has a greatest transverse diameter of 88 n1illimeters. 

Dorsals.-The dorsal region is represen.ted by 12 detached 

processes and an equal number of centra, from which processes 

representing the anterior, n1edian, and posterior dorsal regions 

haYe .been selected for illustration (figs. 22, 23, and 24). The 

centra shown in the illustrations have been arbitrarily placed, 

·in so far as their relations with the associated dorsal processes FIGURE 21.-Posterior cervical process of Braare concerned, for n<;>ne were found artic1Ilated. They at least chyceratops montanensis. No. 7953(?), 

giYe an idea of the shape and proportions of the centra. u.s. N. M. 'One-half natural size. Viewed 

fro·m the front. d, Diapophysis; n, neural 

Figure 22 shows front and side views of a vertebra regarded canal; p, surfaces that articulate with the 

as belonging to the anterior dorsal region. Probably it was centrum; s, spinous process; z, anterior 

zygapophysis; z', posterior zygapophysis. the fourth or fifth vertebra, for, as, will be observed, the paraphophysis on the side of the arch is at the base of the transverse process and is a little removed 

toward the diapophysis, a condition obserYed on the fifth dorsal of Triceratops. As in Monoclonius, Agathaumas, and 1nore especially Triceratops, the transverse processes incline upward 

45° from the horizontal. (See fig. 22.) The transverse processes are long with a beveled 

articular end for the tuberculum of the rib. The spine is thin transversely, with a backward 

inclination, its upper extremity only slightly exceeding in height the transverse processes 

when viewed laterally. The top appears to be without transverse thickening and is somewhat 

pointed, as in the anterior dorsals of the type specimen of Triceratops calicornis Marsh. The 

centru1n provisionally associated with this neural process, when viewed from the front, is seen 

to haYe the typical pear-shaped outline of other ceratopsian dorsal centra. The diameter 

anteroposteriorly appears to be relatively the same as in Triceratops, and as in that genus the 

articular ends are shallowly bico~cave. As compared with the cervical process the neural 

canal is very s1nall. The anterior and posterior zygapophyses are sharply inclined and extend 

well beyond the center of the vertebra. This v.ertebra has a greatest transverse width of 100 

milli1neters; greatest height of 130 millimeters; length of centrum 32 millimeters; height of 

centrum at center 41 millimeters. 

The n1edian dorsal (see fig. 23) shows a higher position of the parapophysis on the inferior 

side of the transYerse process and a broader spinous process with a slight transverse thickening 

n.t its upper extrmnity. The transverse processes are shorter and not so sharply inclined upward 
20 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

fron1. the horizontal. They are also compressed dorsoventrally and are wider' anteroposteriorly 

than in the more anterior dorsals .. The zygapophyses are also not so highly incl~e~. All 

d 

x 

A B 

FIGURE 22.-Anterior dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953( ?) , U. S. N. M. 

One-half natural s:ze. A, Front view; B, side view. d, Diapophysis; n, neural canal: 

p, parapophysis; s, spinous process; s1t, suture between centrum and process; z, anterior 

zygapophysis; z', posterior zygapophysis. 

these changes are approximated in the Triceratops backbone. The greatest transverse 

width .of this vertebra is 99 

millimeters; greatest height 

132.millimeters; length of centrum 32 millimeters;·height of 

centrum at center 40 millimeters. 

The position in the vertebral column of the posterior 

dorsal (see fig. 24) may at once 

be recognized by the horizontal plane of the anterior and 

posterior zygapophyses, by the 

broader and shorter spine, and 

by the shorter, weaker, and 

more depressed transverse 

process. Moreover, the parapophysis is well out on the 

lower side of the transverse 

process toward the diapophysial articular surface for the rib. The incisions for the prezygapophyses and postzygapophyses are much deeper than in the preceding dorsals. The greatest 

s transverse width of this vertebra is 95 millimeters; greatest 

--z 

FIGURE 23. 

height 100 millimeters; greatest length of centrum 32 millimeters; greatest height of centrum at center 35 millimeters . 

. · s The sutural surfaces 

FIGURE 24. 

of the centr~ (see ,fig. 25) 

nearly all agree in having 

two lateral pits separated 

by a short median transverse ridge. 

s.u 

FIGURE 25. 

FIGURE 23.-M:edian dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops montanensis. Nci. i953t ?), U. S. N. M. One-half natural size. Lateral view. d, Diapophysis; p, parapophysis; s, spinous process; su, suture b~tween centrum and process; z, anterior zygapophysis; z', posterior zygapophysis. 

FIGURE 24.-Posterior dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953(?), U. S. N. M. One-half natural size. Lateral view. d, Diapophysis; p, parapophysis; s, spinous process; su, suture b.etween centrum and process; z, anterior zygapophysis; z', posterior zygapophysis. 

FIGURE 25 . .:....centrum of dorsal vertebra of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953(?), U. S. N. 1\I. One-half natural size. Lateral view. au, Suture 

for the spinous process. 

The last or sacrodorsal is represented only by the centru:tn in No. 7953. Though found 

detached from the first sacral of that specimen, it was in close association with it in the matrix 

and in an adult individual would undoubtedly have been firmly coossified with the sacral as 

indicated by the sutural surfa~e of its posterior end. The centrum is slightly longer and more 

massive than any of the centra attributed to the dorsal region.. A measurement taken at the 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 103 PLATE Ill 

BONES OF BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS. 

Paratype, No. 7953, U. S. National Museum. One-half natural size. A, Articulated caudal vertebrae, lateral view. B, Sacrum, lateral view; c, second caudal vertebra; s, spinous processes; 82 to sa. sacrals 2 to 6; 

sc, sacrocaudal; t, ossified tendons. C, Sacral vertebrae, ventral view; 81 to sa, sacrals 1 to 6; sc, sacrocaudal. 
BRAQHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. . 21 

end shows it to be wider than high. The lateral surfaces are flattened in a vertical direction, 

and the ventral surfaces are broadly flattened with two s~1allow longitudinal grooves. A heavy 

articular fncet on the posterior external angle contributes to the support of the first sacral rib. 

The greatest length of centrum is 35 miLl~meters; and the greatest height, take:n at the center, 

is 31 millimeters. 

Sacrum.-The sacrun1 in the paratype, No. 7953, is represented by all the centra, portions 

of the neural processes of the posterior vertebrae, and numerous detached sacral ribs. (See Pl. 

III, B, 0; text fig. 26.) These parts have been c01npressed, but taken all in· all give a fairly 

l~IGURE 26.-Sacrum of Brachyceratops montanensis with ilia in position. Para type. ·No. 7953, U.S.N. M. One-fourth natural size. Superior 

viow. a, Anterior end; d, diapophysis;il,ilium; p, posterior end; pp, pubic peduncle; 81, 82, sa, 84, s~, 86, sacral vertebrae Nos. 1 to 6; sc, sacrocaudals; sr, s~cml ribs. · · 

good idea of the chief characteristics of the sacrun1 in Brachyceratops. The centra are all suturn~ly united and in an adult individual would doubtless be firmly coossified, as in other ceratopsians. The paratype has nine articulated centra, of which the anterior six are regarded as true 

sacrals and the posterior two as true caudals. The remaining intermediate vertebra between 

tail and sacrum constitutes a modified caudal that functions to a certain extent as a sacral 

and can therefore be designated a sacroc udal (sc, fig. 26). 

The s,acrun1 of the paratype, including the sacrodorst\l and the sacrocaudal, had eight centra 

·with sutured articul~r ends. whereas Jfonoclonius and Triceratops had ten such vertebrae. 
22 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

FIGURE 27.-Sacrum of Triceratops prorsus, Marsh with ilia in position. No. 4842, U. S. N. M. One-twelfth natural size. Superior view a, 

Anterior end; il, ilium; 11, posterior end. (After Hatcher.) 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 23 

This, however, may not constitute a constant difference between these genera, for it is quite 

possible that in smne specimens of Brachyceratops one or more caudals have acquired such an 

articula.tion, thus bringing the total number up to 10, as in known ceratopsian sacra. 

The first sacral may be recognized at once by the great·transverse breadth of the centrum, 

its flattened ventral surface, and the inferior position of the posterior articular facets for the 

second sacral rib (s11 Pl. III, 0). The second sacral centrm11 is also distinguished fron1 all 

others by th~ much greater breadth of the a:p.terior as compared with the posterior extren1ity. 

The centra of the ren1a.ining sacrals are of about equal dimensions, higher than wide, constricted 

1nedially, with slightly flattened inferior surfaces. 

A second speci1nen (No. 8072, U. S. N. :M.), however, shows centra that are broader than 

high and that hn.ve a shallow longitudinal depression on their inferior surfaces. The differences 

are in all probability due to crushing. The first three vertebrae of the sacral region, which 

include the sacrodorsal, are decidedly heavier than any that succeed then1. The sacral ribs are 

borne jointly by all the centra. The first rib joins the centra by well-developed facets on the 

superior, posterior, external angle of the dorsosacral and on the superior, anterior, external 

angle of the first sacral. The second and strongest sacral rib of the series articulates jointly 

with the first and second dorsals low down on the sides of the centra, the inferior surface of the 

rib being on a level with the ventral surf9.ce of the sacrals. (See Pl. III, 0.) The succeeding ribs 

articulate with facets that are but little below the level of the floor of the neural canal. 

Longitudinally the sacrum is strongly arched (s·ee Pl. III, B), though in all probability this 

arching has been much exaggerated in this specimen by post-mortenl. causes. 

The few spinous processes are exceedingly shqrt thin plates of bone with little transverse 

thickening of their superior extremities. That these were united into a bony plate is indicated 

by a detached sacral process belonging to another individual (No. 8072, U. S. N. M.), which 

shows sutural edges fore and aft that continue to the top of the spine. The same condition prevails on the spine of the fifth sacral (see Pl. III, B), so it would appear that this plate may have 

been continuous fron1 the first to the fifth, much as it is in Triceratops. The relative shortness 

of the ~pines in Brachyceratops would at once distinguish its sacrum from ~hat of the forn1er 

genus. 

A~ 1n Triceratops the spinal cord appears to have been only slightly enlarged in the anterior sacral region. The diapophyses are comparatively weak and are given off on a horizontal 

plane fro1n the neurn.l arches, with thin ends directe& forward. (See fig. 26.) ·Their inferior 

borders extend obliquely downw9.rd and inward and present a narrow sutural edge for articulation with the upper and inner borders of the sacral ribs, which they overlap superiorly. Nearly . 

all the transverse processes are n1issing, but their point of origin, as shown by the broken surf11ces, is indicated in figure 26 by parallel dotted lines. 

Though n1any sacral ribs were found none were articulated and a description of the1n would 

add little to the positive knowledge of the structure of the sacrun1. 

Measurements, in millimeters, of centra of sacral vertebrae. 

Greatest length ............................................. . Greatest transverse diameter: 

Anterior end .......................................... · .. . Posterior end .......................................... . 

I 

36 

39 

58 

II 

35 

47 

33 

III 

32 

32 

IV 

29 

25 

23 

v 

30 

24 

28 

VI 

30 

28 

28 

Cm.tdal vertebrae.-Forth~ first ti1ne since the diseovery of ceratop,sian dinosaurs a c01nplete 

caudal series of 50 vertebrae (paratype No. 7953) is available for study. 

The greater number were found articulated, and such displacement as existed was so slight 

that there can be no question that they represent a COI).Se{{utive series. Forty-six of then{ are 

represented in Plate III, A, the renutining four being attached by the 11.1atrix to the sacrum. 

(See Pl. IV.) 
24 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

The centrum of the first or sacrocaudal (sc, Pl. III, 0) is longer than wide and has an articular facet on its superoantero lateral angle for the articulation of the last sacral rib. The neural 

arch, although poorly preserved, indicates that'the spine was distinct from the spines forward 

of it. It had a decidedly backward inclination. The anterior and posterior zygapophyses are 

also rlifferenti_ated, not coalesced, as in all preceding sacral vertebrae. The diapophyses on 

the first and second caudals are given off fron1 the sid~s of the arch well below the zygapophyses 

but above the neurocentra! suture, but that on the fourth caudal is beJow that suture. . The 

centrum of the third caudal is so badly crushed that it gives a poor idea of its proportions. The 

arch, however, shows the spine to be narrower,. anteroposteriorly, than it is in ·the first and 

second caudals, and the diapophysis is somewhat lower on the side of the arch than it is in the 

first caudal. 

The third and fourth caudals are repre'sented by the centra only, which, like all that follow, 

are short and have slightly biconcave ends and a transverse· width that usually exceeds both 

the longitudinal and the vertical diameters. · · 

Transverse processes are present on the first 25 vertebrae. The anterior ones, except 

possibly the first two or three, are long and flattened and have heavy expanded articular ends 

that unite about equally with the centrum and the peclicles of the arch. (See fig. 28.) These 

s-

-t 

FIGURE 28. FIGURE 29. 

•

·.s;:: 

. 

. 

A B 

FIGURE 30. 

FIGURE 28.-Anterior caudal vertebra (eighth) of Brachyceratops montanensis. Paratype., No. 7953, U.S.N. M:. One-half natural size. Front 

view. c, Centrum; n, neural canal; s, spine; t, transverse process; z, anterior zygapophysis. 

FIGURE 29.-Median caudal vertebra of Brachyceratops montanensis. Paratype. No. 7953, U. S. N. M. One-half natural size. Front view. 

c, Centrum; s, neural spine; su, neurocentra! suture; t, transverse pro~ess; z, anterior zygapophysis; z', posterior zygapophysis. 

FIGURE 30.-Distal caudal vertebrae of Brachyceratops montanensis. Paratype. No. 7953, U. S. N. M:. One-half natural size. Front Yiew. 

A, Twenty-third; B, twenty-sixth. c, Centrum; s, spine; z, anterior zygapophysis. 

gradually shorten posteriorly. In the twentieth centrum the transverse is united entirely 

with the centrum and all trace of sutural articulation is obliterated, though in the nine.teenth 

it is -visible- and slightly in contact with the pedicle of the arch. · 

The neural arches throughout the caudal region are low. The short compressed spines· of 

the anterior caudals with transversely expanded upper extremities (see Pl. III, A) gradually 

narrow and become smaller and in the midcaudal region show no thickening of their upper 

ends. (See fig. 29.) · 

The anterior zygapophyses are finger-like and extend forward with articular faces that 1 

face upward and inward. (See fig. 28.) The posterior zygapophyses are well up on the posterior 

border of the spine and overhang the ends of the centra. Functional zygapophyses persist 

down onto the distal fourth of the -tail. In the distal caudals (fig. 30) the neural processes are 

present on the second to the last, but are without spines; also the processes, instead of occupying 

the middle of the centrum, have shifted their position forward toward the anterior end, as in 

Stegosaurus. These most distal c~udals also have convex distal·extremities and concave proximal articular ends and are without chevron facets. The anterior caudals as far back as the 

thirty-ninth caudal from the sacrum have oblique chevron facets on the posterior ends of the 

centra arid may have had them nearly to the tip of the tail, as in Stegosaurus. The tip of the 

tail is composed of three coossified centra, the final one being hardly more than a short, rounded 

obtusely pointed ossicle. 
BRACHYCEHATOPS MONT'ANENSIS GILMORE. 25 

THE RIBS. 

Brachyceratops, like other n1embers of the Ceratopsia, doubtless had· cervical ribs, but 

none of them have been preserved. A considerable number of thoracic ribs, however, have 

been found and serve to illustrate the various modifications in the dorsal region. (See fig. 31.) 

All are double head~d. The n1ore anterior dorsal ribs are distinguished by. the straightness of 

their shafts and the elm-ration of the tuberculun1 ttbove the. capitular process, which is given off 

I. 

I • 

A 

B 

FIGUHI' ~H.-Dorsnl ribs or Bracliyccratops montancnsis. No. 7953(?), U. S. N. M. A, Second dorsal rib fro~ the right side; B, anterior dorsal 

rib; C, median dorsal rib; D, posterior dorsal rib. All one-half natural size. 

at nearly right angles to the. shaft, which is s.ubcylindrical in cross section. A good exa1uple 

of what is regarded as a second dorsal rib from the right side is shown in figure 31, A, and is 

succeeded by the type shown in figure 31, B. These two are .the longest of the series, having a 

n1ore arched upper extremity which throws the capitular process downward at more than a 

right angle to the longer axis of the shaft, thus forming a flattened lank body cavity like that 

in Stegosaurus and J?iplodocus. The shaft of these ribs is flattened, of fairly uniform width, 

and has a truncated distal extremity that shows no thickening. The median ribs (see fig. 31, C) 
26 BRACHYCERATOPS •. 

are more curved from end to. end, with an upward inclination of the capitular process and a 

reduced tubercular facet. The posterior ribs (see fig. 31, D) are slenderer and straighter, with 

a capitular process but little angulated in relation to the shaft. The capitulum and tuberculum 

are not so far removed from one another as in more anterior ribs, this being due to the shifting 

of the facets on the dorsal vertebrae. In figure 32 is shown a small curved bone that is doubtfully regarded as representing the last dorsal rib. It has a single cupped articular face (a, fig. 32) 

on its proximal extremity, and if correctly identified it probably curved down from the diapophysis on the inside of the ilium, with which it was doubtless in contact, as in Stegosauru_s, Thescelosaurus, and presumably many other dinosaurs. 

THE CHEVRONS. 

No. 7953 includes chevrons from the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the tail. In 

the anterior portion they are longer than the spines of the vertebrae with which they articulate, 

but posteriorly they appear to reduce more rapidly than the 

-a spinous processes. Throughout the series they have the 

usual Y shape, though a few of the anterior ones have the 

articular ends in contact on the median line, thus bridging 

the cleft between the branches. More posteriorly, however, 

all have these ends separate. 

FIGURE 32. FIGURE 33. 

FIGURE 32.-Posterior dorsal rib of Brachyceratops 

montanensis. No. 7953(?), U.S. N .. M. Onehalf natural size. Posterior view. a, Articulating face. 

The great length of the upper. branches as compared 

with the extremely short ones of the distal portion serves to 

distinguish the chevrons of Brachyceratops from those of other 

described dinosaurs. The articulating facets are confined to 

the posterior face, though they look somewhat upward in the 

anterior caudal region, but in the median and distal portions 

of the tail they are more on the proximal face. The free 

end is bluntly truncated throughout the series. The shaft is 

FIGURE 33.-Chevronof Brachyceratops montanensis. Paratype. No. 79~, U.S.N. M. Threefourths natural size. a, Articulating face. 

rounded in the anterior members and is somewhat flattened 

transversely in the median and posterior chevrons. All are unusually straight and none have 

expanded free ends. An anterior chevron measures 44 millimeters in length. 

A number of small .. bones· found in the matrix surrounding the anterior portion· of. the tail 

of No. 7953 have· a flattened, rounded articular facet very similar to those of the anterior 

. chevrons, the opposite end, ·bemg slightly· expanded in the· same· plane. (See fig. 33.) The 

shaft is also greatly curved from end to end. It was at firSt thought these might be caudal 

ribs, but the absence of articular ends on the transverse processes (the true caudal ribs in this 

specimen) does not adapt itself. to this 'explanfition, and the only alternative that suggests 

itself is that they are chevron bones, the two branches being separate at their free extremities. 

Such a condition is unknown in any reptile living or extinct, and it is quite probable that .this 

explanation· is incorrect. ' 

OSSIFIED TENDONS. 

- - Ossified tendons (t, Pl. III, B) were found attached by matrix along both sides of the 

neural spines of the sacrum in the paratype No. 7953. That these ossifications were als~ present 

on the anterior portions of the tail is indicated by a few fragments still attached to the vertebrae by matrix. Numerous fragments of these tendons were found in the soft matrix immediately surrounding the tail, and doubtless they also extended forward along the dorsal region, 

as in Triceratops. They are slender, rounded, rodlike ossifications, averaging about 2 millimeters in diameter. THE SHOULDER GIRDLE AND FORE LIMB. 

Scapula.-The complete scapula of Brachyceratops is as yet unknown, but fragmentary 

portions of two bones of paratype No. 7958 supplement one another sufficiently to give a very 

accurate conception of its general shape and proportions. (See fig: 34.) 

The scapula is long and narrow and is somewhat bent longitudinally to better conform to 

the curve of the thoracic cavity. The articular end is heavy and has a cupped surface (g, fig. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 27 

34) for the articulation of the humerus. The thinner upper portion of this end is missing. 

The verti ~tl breadth of the shaft decreases to its mid length and again gradually expands to 

the squar<: ycut-off upper extremity. The lower border on the proximal half is broadly rounded 

---------..... 

FIGURE 34.-Left scapula of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7958, U. S. N. M. One-half natural size. External view. g, Glenoid cavity. The 

drawing is a composite made from two bones, their overlap being indicated by the dotted line. 

but grn,dually thins toward the upper end to a sharp edge. The upper end is without transverse thickening. A heavy rounded ridge extends upward on the outer surface diagonally from 

the posterior border of the glenoid cavjty to the upper anterior border, 

whence it continues backward as a thickening of this margin. In general proportions. and outline the scapula of Brachyceratops, although less 

than hnlf the size, very closely resembles ·the scapula of Monoclonius 

dawsoni as described and figured· by Lamhe. 1 It is to be distinguished 

fro:p1 the scapula of Triceratops as figured by Hatcher 2 by its lack of an 

upward expansion of the anterior upper border of the blade and by the 

less pr01ninent development and more diagonal direction of the ridge on 

the external surface. 

At present the coracoid and humerus are unknown. 

Uln(t.-The uh1a is, of course; very much sn1aller than in TriceratozJs but is otherwise similar, being heavy above· and but little expanded 

on the distal end. The olecranon process is massive and is produced 

far above the main articulating surface for the humerus. The shaft 

is nnlCh flattened anteroposteriorly, its posterior side being shallowly 

concave trn,nsversely throughout the greater part of its length. The 

anterior face of the distal portion is broadly rounded transversely but, 

Inore proximally, changes to a decided concave surface for the reception 

of the rounded head of the radius. The distal articular end is smooth 

and extends considerably upward on the posterior side and is not visible 

fron1 the front. (See :fig. 35.) 

The outline of the olec1·anon was drawn from a second specimen, 

and its shape is correct. The greatest length of the left ulna (see fig. 35) 

is estimnted at about 213 millimeters. 

Badius.-The radius is more slender than the ulp.a and has expanded ends, of which the distal is the hea.vier. The proximal end is 

angularly rounded and has a shallow cupped articular surface. The FiouRE 3s.-LeftulnaofBrach· 

shaft in cross section near its middle is oval. The distal end is ex- yceratops montanensis. No. 

pn,nded transversely but is somewhat compressed anteroposteriorly. A !~~ra~~i~~.NA.~rt~ri~;~-i~~~~~ 

cmnplete radius ·is not lmown, but proximal and distal portions of it are o, Olecranon process; r, conshown in figure 36. cavity for proximal end of 

radius. Olecranon· restorE~d 

F01·e foot.-N othing is. known of the structure of the carpus and from the ulna of a second inbut little of the n1etacarpus. Figure 37 shows all the bones in the dividual. 

collection from Montana that are regarded as pertaining to the fore foot of Brachyceratops. 

1 Lambo, L. M., On Vertebrata of the mid-Cretaceous of ~he Northwest Territory: Contr., Canadian Paleontology, vol. 3, pt. 2, p. 60, pl. 19, 

fig. 4, 1!)02. . 

· 2liatcber, J. H., The Cemtopsia: U.S. Geol. Survey Mon. 4!l, p. 78, fig. 84, 1907. 

54025°-17-3 
'I 

28 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

The metacarpus is represented by one fragmentary and two complete metacarpals (a, b, c, 

fig. 37), but nothing is positively kriown of the positions they ·9ccupied in the foot. 1 The· 

phalanges (d, e, j, g, h, fig. 37) are depressed rectangular elements. It was on account of 

their thin depressed ·nature that they were assigned to the 

manus, for otherwise they appear indistinguishable from the 

phalanges .of the pes. Similarly, the ungual phalanx (i, fig. 37) 

is assigned to. the fore foot, being elongated and more sharply 

pointed than the shorter,more broadly rounded unguals associated 

with the partly articulated hind feet. (See figs. 46, 47, pp. 34, 35.} 

THE PELVIC GIRDLE AND HIND LIMB. 

B 

A 

ilium.-The ilium is an elongate, irregularly shaped bone, 

consisting of a comparatively thin, horizontal, expanded anterior 

part and a nearly vertical but narrower posterior part. (See 

figs. 38 and 39.) The inner 'and outer borders of the dorsal face, 

(see fig. 26, p. 21) each describe a sigmoid curve. The transversely expanded anterior plate of the ilium has a convex dorsal 

and a concave ventral surface. The external border is not continuous from end to end, as in the ilium of Triceratops and 

Monoclonius (compare figs. 39 and 40), but extends backward 

and downward from the anterior portion and fades out on the 

FIGURE 36.-Proximal and distal portions external side above the pubic peduncle. Above and somewhat of the ra!lius of Brachyceratops montanen- sis. Nos.sonandso78, u.s. N. M. one- forward of this termination a second rol,lllded border arises from 

half naturalsize. A, Proximal portion;· the outer side of the convex superior surface of the anterior B, distal portion. plate of the ilium and continues ·posteriorly, completing the 

outer border of the middle section and the upper border of 

the posterior portion. , . 

In contrast with the ilia of Monoclonius, Agathaumas, and 

Triceratops (compare figs. 39 and 40), the ilium of Brachyceratops is not only much smaller, but the transverse expansion of 

its anterior plate, its greater inclination outward, and the 

differentiation of the thickened deflected border .above the 

ischiac peduncle all distinguish it from the other· described 

forms. In the development of this heavy deflected process 

above the ischiac articulation and in being longer than the 

femur it somewhat resembles the Stegosaurus iliu.in. (Compare 

figs. 26 and 27, pp. 21 and 22.)· 

Near the middle the internal border is greatly thickened 

dorsoventrally and is produced downward to ·form the superior 

border of the acetabulum and the pubic and ischiac peduncles. 

The anterior peduncle is rather slender, but the posterior one 

is exceedingly heavy in all dimensions, as shown .in figures 38 

and 39. The posterior. plate, when the ilium .is in a vertical 

position, has its superior border inclined slightly outward from 

the perpendicular. In Brachyceratops this upper border is 

relatively thin, its posterior end is cut off obliquely and its 

inferior border is concave from end to end; whereas in Tric 

b 

e 

f 

h 

i 

FIGURE 37.-Bones provisionally identified as· 

pertaining to the fore foot of Brachyceratops 

montanensis. No. 8079, U.S.N. M. Supe- rior view. a, b, c, Metacarpals; d, e, !, g, h, 

phalanges; i, ungual phalanx. 

ceratops it .is much thickened; its posterior end is bluntly rounded, and its inferior border . 

is slightly convex from end to end. On the internal side the usual cupped articulating 

surfaces for the diapophyses .and sacral and caudal ribs appear. 

1 For convenience in reference.these foot bones are catalogued under one number. This does not imply that they belonged to one individual, for they were found among the scattered surface fragments. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 29 

The n1e.asur01nents of the left ilium of paratype No. 7953 are as follows: 

Millimeters. 

Greatest length of ilium................................................................... 362 

Greatest width of anterior blade......... .. .. . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Greatest width at center, transverAely ............................................... '....... 39 

Greatest depth of posterior blade.......................................................... 37 

Greatest deptp at center of acetabulum.................................................... 51 

Greatest width across deflected external process............................................. 56 

p 

Fwunt~ 38.-Loftillum of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953, U. S. N. M. One-third natural size. External view. a, Anterior end; 

ac, acetabulum; ~s, ischiac peduncle; p, posterior end; pb, pubic peduncle. 

Pubis.-The pubis in Brachyceratops consists of an elongated, transversely flattened plate 

of bone, a prepubic portion, and a short, slender, curved, somewhat rudimentary posterior 

postpubis. The anterior portion is .expanded dorsoventrally into a broadly rounded end but 

is little thickened transversely. The rugose articulating surface for the peduncle of the ilium 

is relatively not so heavy as in Tricerat~ps, but the broad posteriorly directed process forming 

the internal wall of the acetabulum is as well developed as in that genus and contributes to 

the same extent to the formation of the inner boundary of the. acetabulum. In none of the · 

e 

p 

FIOUJtl~ 39.-Loft ilium of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953, U. S. N. M. One-thircl natural size. A, Ventral view; B, oblique dorsal 

view. a, Anterior end; ac, acetabulum; c, overhanging crest; 7J, posterior end; pb, pubic peduncle. 

pubes before n1e is the postpubis entire, all specimens lacking portions of their distal ends; 

their extension posteriorly appears to be about the smne as in Triceratops. There is no distinct 

pubic formnen, but an elongated cleft between the postpubis and the flattened posterior end 

of the prepubis probably functioned as such. The greatest length of the left pubis of No. 

7953 is 192 millimeters. The chief characteristics of this bone. are well shown in figure 41. 

Ischium.-In the collection from Montana there are portions of no less than nine ischi~ 

of Brachyceratops, but only one of them is complete. (See fig. 42.) It is a long, slender curved 

bone with an expanded proximal extremity, carrying a heavy articulation for the ischiac peduncle 
30 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

of the ilium and s~ndl.ng forward and upward a process which articulates at its extremity 

with the .pubis. The articulated ischia curve toward the median line and were probably united 

by cartilage for a short space near their distal extremities. The shaft is subcircular throughout 

tpe median part of its length but becomes somewhat triangular toward its reduced distal end. 

The right ischium, shown in figure 42 (No. 8073, U.S. N. M.), has a greatest length of 340 

millimeters. 

I 

8 

I!IGURE 40.-Rightilium of Triceratops flabellatus Marsll. No. Ul21, Yale Museum. One-eighth natural size. Inferior view. a, Anterior end; 

e, external border; i, internal border; is, ischiac peduncle; p, posterior end; pb, pubic peduncle. (After Hatcher.) 

Femur.--The femur is represented in the collection by one complete bone and good-sized 

portions of four others. All are the same size and differ only in minor details, which may be 

entirely attributed 't~ .. J>ost-mortem causes. · . · 

In Brachyceratop8· ~he femur is slightly more than one-fourth as long again as the tibia 

and in Triceratops it is half as long again. In other words, in Brachyceratops the ratio of length 

of the tibia to the femur is 1 to 1.28, and in Triceratops it is 1 to 1.59. Proximally the head is 

differentiated from the shaft and the greater trochanter by a short neck that is less well defined 

than that found in the femur 

of Triceratops and that much 

more closely resembles the 

same bone in Monoclonius 

crassus Cope. Viewed from 

above the head is subglobularinoutline, witharounded 

notch or groove on the ex1' ternal posterior border. The 

FIGURE 41.-Left pubis of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953, U.S.N. M. One-half natural size. 

Internal view. a, Anterior end; b, posterior end; c, articulating surface for pubic peduncle; p, pre- great trochanter (b, fig. 43) 

pubic portion; p', postpubicportion. . is expanded anteroposteriorly. On the anterior external angle and separated from the great trochanter by a deep cleft 

is a flattened finger-like lesser trocha!lter (a, fig. 43), which rises nearly to the height of the 

greater trochanter. This process is also present in Triceratops but is shorter and broader and 

is about equally prominent extern!lllY and anteriorly, whereas in Brachyceratops it is more 

prominent externally. Though doubtless preserved in Monoclonius this process is not shown 

in the figures of that bone by Hatcher. 

·An elongated fourth trochanter rests wholly on the proximal half of the posterointernal 

border of . the shaft.· In Triceratops the center· of this trochanter is about midway between 

the proximal and distal ends. The condyles of the distal end are heavy, the internal being 

larger than the external. ,The intercondylar notch is deep and narrow, and the anterior intercondylar groove is wide and concavely rounded transversely and extends well up on the anterior 

face of the bone. The principal characters of the femur are well shown in figure 43. The 

measurements of specimen No. 7953 are as follows: · Millimeters. 

Greatest length .......... _-.- ______________________ ~ ________ . ________ ... _. _________ . ________ 337 

Greatest breadth: · Proximal end. _______ : _____ .. __________ ._ ... _________ . ___ . _____________ . ______ : _________ 100 

Distal end.·- ...... _ .. - . - _ - - - - - - - - - _ ~ - - - - -. -.... _ -- . -. -.. - _ . - - - - -: . - - -.. - - - - - -.. - - _ - - - - - 83 

Least breadth of shaft ............................................ -.... ___ ._.- ... _____ ..... __ 45 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMOR.E. 31 

Tibia.-The tibia is relatively short and is constricted medially but has expanded ends. 

'l"'he greatest proximal exp~nsion is anteroposterior (see fig. 44), and the greatest distal measurenlent is transverse. The proximal surface is rugosely roughened .. This end shows a division 

into two backward projecting condyles, about subequal in size and separated by a nP,rrow intercondylar notch of moderate depth. The cnemial crest is 

heavy and projects well forward of the median part of the 

shaft. 

The distal end is divided into two surfaces, an inner 

with a beveled distnJ surface that articulates with the 

astragalus and constitutes more than one-half of the transverse diameter of this end, and an outer that extends distally 

to the level of the inferior border of the articulated astragalus 

and closely embraces that element on the external side. The 

anterior side of this part of the tibia is flattened for, the 

articulation of the fibula. The measurements of tibia No. 

7957 n,re as follows: 

Millimeters. 

Greatest length ................................... 268 

Greatest diameter: 

Proximal end: 

Anteroposteriorly, estimated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 

Transversely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 

Distal end: 

Anteroposteriorly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

TransverAely.............................. 71 

Fibula.-The fibula is shorter than the tibia. It is 

slender and has expanded extremities, and its shaft is flattened 

in the proximal half but subcylindrical below. The bone 

is bowed longitudinally, and the ends are angulated to one 

n,nother, that is, planes passed through their longer diameter 

if produced would cut one another at 45 °. 

At the proximal end the face toward the tibia is slightly 

concave and that away from the tibia is convex anteroposteriorly. The lower articular face is flattened and was closely 

11pplied to the n,nterior flattened face of the tibia. Th~ 

diE?tal articular end is shn,llowly cupped and triangular in 

outline, its widest portion being internal, with a knoblike 

projecting facet for the calcaneum as in Camptosaurus. A 

side view of the fibula is shown in figure 45. The greatest 

length of the fibula of para type No. 7957 is 246 millimeters, 

~tnd the greatest width of the distal end is 34 millimeters. 

THE HIND FOOT. 

The specimens.-Notwithstanding the great number of 

cerntopsian remains collected in the Rocky Mountain region 

since 1855, the present specimens are the first to be described 

that bO'ive an adequate conception of the complete skeletal FIGURE 42.-Hight ischium of Brachyceratops mon· tanensis. No.S073, U.S.N.M:. One-halfnatural 

structure' of the pes in the horned Dii!QSa uri a. They are of size. External view. il, Process for articulation 

additional interest because they pertain to one of the earliest withilium; p,processthatarticulatedwithpubis. 

known members of the ceratopsian group of dinosaurs and will be of especial value in determining the structural changes that have taken place in the hind feet of the later and 1nore 

highly specialized ceratopsians of the Lance when these are found. · 
32 BBACHYCERATOPS. 

Except the vestigial digit V, the complete hind foot of Brachyceratops is shown in figure 46 

The elements dra)Vll in outline have been introduced from the evidence of the partly articulated foot No. 7956 (s'ee fig. 47), in which the phalanges of digit I were present but were turned 

back beneath the other metatarsals.· The fourth phalanx of digit IV is also present in that 

foot and is articulated with the third, which agrees perfectly with the third phalanx of foot 

No. 7957. 

oc A B c 

FIGURE 43.-Femur of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7953, U.S.N. M. One-half natural size. A, Posterior view; B, external view; C, anterior 

view. a, Finger-like trochanter; b, great trochanter; h, head; ic, inner condyle; oc, outer condyle; t, fourth trochanter. 

The pes in Brachyceratops consists of four functional digits ·and one which is vestigial. 

From these semiarticulated feet the phalangial formula has been determined as 2, 3, 4, 5, 0 ~ 

In figure 46 the foot is drawn with the toes spread wide apart, the pose being that assumed by 

metatarsals I, II, and III, which are firmly united by matrix. Study of the second foot (No. 

7956) and of the opposing surfaces of the metatarsals lends convincing evidence that the surfac~s of their shafts were more closely applied throughout most of their length. They interlock with one another at their proximal ends and thus form a compact, strong foot. 
·BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE.' 33 

Tarsus.-The known tarsus consists of four bones, the astragalus, .calcaneum, and' two 

tarsalia of the distal row. 

The astragalus is represented by three bones, one belonging to the foot (No. 7956), a 

second firmly coossified with the tibia shown in figure 44, and a third, somewhat fragmentary, 

·which was found in the float. The astragalus of No. 7956 

- is an elongated, rectangular, blocklike bone having a slightly 

.rugose distal surface that is convex anteroposteriorly. The 

proximal surface is concave in the same diameter. ·The 

external end is thickened, but the internal end thins out to 

a liplike rounded end, deeply notched at the center. When 

articulat~d with the tibia (see fig. 44) it appears relatively 

.larger than in Triceratops. The greatest transverse diam-

.eter of astragalus of No. 7956 is 59 millimeters, and the 

a. greatest anteroposterior diameter is 27 

millimeters. 

The calcaneum is· represented by 

two bones, one belonging to the foot of 

No. 7957 and a second to No. 7956. 

The calcaneum pertaining to specimen 

No. 7957 is the better preserved and 

was found in close association witli. the 

foot, as .shown in figure 4 7. The surface opposed to the distal end of the 

tibia is cupped, the anteroinferior face 

is broadly rounded dorsoventrally, and 

the superior surface presents a triangular articulating surface for the d.istal 

end of the fibula. This bone has a 

greatest vertical diameter of about 34 

.millimeters; anteroposteriorly it measures 30 millimeters. · 

The ossified tarsal bones of the distal row are irregularly rounded discoidal 

elements with upper surfaces concave 

and lower convex. In figure 47 they 

are shown as found in place and in all 

prob~bility are not far removed fron;:t a 

their proper position in.the tarsus. The FIGURE 44.-Tibia of Brachyceratops montanensis. 

'b 

No. 7957, U. S. N. M. One-half natural size. 

largest articulates with the proximal Oblique external view. a, Astragalus; e, enemial 

end of metatarsal II, the smallest with crest. 

metatarsal III (see fig. 46), to which it was found securely attached by 

matrix. The third tarsal was wholly in apposition to metatarsal IV. 

Metatarsus.~The metatarsus, as already stated, comprises four functional metatarsals and one that is vestigial. Metatarsal I, the shortest 

'FIGURE 45.-Flbula of Bra· 

chyceratops montanensis. of the functional series, is robust and has expanded articular ends, more 

No. 7057, u. s. N. M. especially the distal, which is rectangular in outline, its articular surface 

Ono-lmlf natural sIze. 

lA\toral view. a, Proxi- being cut off obliquely to the longer axis of the shaft. In the articulated 

mal end; b, distal end. foot its proximal end extends above the upper articular surface of metatarsal II and probably shows the correct articulation of these bones, for the two feet (Nos. 7956 

.and 7957) have these elements preserved in almost identical positions. 

Metata:rSal II is nearly twice the length of metatarsal I but is shorter than metatarsal III. 

·The proximal end is expanded anteroposteriorly, and the distal end has its greatest diameter 
34 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

transve:r;'Se. The internal surface of the proximal end is shallowly concave for better articulation with metatarsal I. The opposite side is slightly convex and articulates with the concave 

· surface of metatarsal III. 

Metatarsal III is the longest bone of the foot and in general resembles the median element 

of the Triceratops foot. The expansion of the proximal end is chiefly anteroposteriorly, and 

that of the distal end, as in metatarsal II, is transverse. The distal articular ends of both 

metatarsals II and III of foot No. 7957 are peculiarly flattened and are not convex anteroposteriorly, as in most dinosaurian metatarsals. - The ends are also cut off somewhat obliquely 

to the longer diameter of the shafts, their faces being directed slightly inward. 

·Metatarsal IV is shorter than metatarsal II and may be distinguished from the other metatarsals by the anteroposteriorly compressed shaft. The transverse diameter of the proximal 

end also exceeds the ante-

. roposterior diameter. The 

inner side near the proximal 

end has a slightly concave 

triangular area which articulates well with the con vex 

surface of metata113al III. 

The proximal end is slightly 

cupped as in metatarsal IV 

of Camptosaurus and TAescelosaurus, for the better 

articulation of the distal 

tarsal element. The shaft, 

although somewhat constricted, is relatively wider 

than in the other meta tarsals. 

The distal face is nearly 

square in outline, though 

all four sides are decidedly 

concave on their median 

surfaces. The articular end 

is convex anteroposteriorly. 

Metatarsal V is known 

m only from two fragmentary FIGURE 46.-Left hind foot of Brachyceratops montanensis. No. 7957, u.s. N. M. One-half natural ends which are reQ:arded as 

size. Anterior view. t, Tarsal bones of the distal row; I, II, III, and IV, digits 1 to 4, respectively. '-' 

Bones in outline have been introduced upon the evidence furnished by the foot of ,specimen No. representing proximal ar7956' shown in figure 47. ticular portions. One of 

these was associated but not articulated with foot No. 7957. It is a thin flattened bone with 

a rounded articular end that in all probability was attached to the posterior side of metatarsal· 

IV. The distal portion is unknown. · 

Phalang'es.-The proximal phalanges are somewhat longer than the intermediate ones. 

The proximal phalanx of digit I is especially elongated, equaling in this measurement the 

metatarsal of digit I. Its upper surface is beveled off toward the inner side of the foot. All 

the phalanges are ·flattened, blocklike elements, with concave proximal and· convex distal 

·extremities, but lacking the pulley-shaped finish of the Camptosaurus phalanges with their 

vertical interlocking keels. Many of the phalanges show shallow lateral pits for the attachment 

of ligaments. The second, third, and fourth phalanges of digit IV are considerably more 

shortened than are the phalanges of the other toes. ·The unguals are flattened and have broadly 

rounded anterior borders with pitted surfaces. As in Triceratops and Stegosaurus, in life these 

were probably incased in flat hoofs. Their articular ends are shallo'wly concave and have elon-
U. S. GEOL.OGICA\.. SURVEY 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER 103 PlATE IV 

SKELETAL RESTORATION OF BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS. 

About one-fifth natural size. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 35 

gated oval outlines. In a general way they resemble the unguals of Trachodon more than those 

of T-riceratops, as figured by I-Ia tcher .

1 

.11/easurements.-Measurements of the left hind foot of the paratype No. 7957 foll?w: 

Measurements, in millimeters, of the left hind foot of Brachyceratops montanensis (No. 7957). 

I. II. III. IV. v. 

-----------------·-------------1·----------

Greu.test length of metu.tarsu.ls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 92 97 

Proximal end of metatarsals: 

Greu.test anteroposterior diameter........................................... 27 43 36 

Greatest tmnsverse diameter ................. : ............ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 30 27 

Distal end of metatarsals, greatest transverse diameter.................. . . . . . . . . . . . 30 33 34 

Phal~!tges; greatest length: , 1! 1rst rO\V................................................................. . a 51 34 28 

Second rO\V ......... ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a 37 24 20 

'fhird ro\v .................................... ·......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 18 

l?ourth rO\V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

l?ifth 1'0\V •••••••••••••••••.•••••.•.•.•.•••.•.•.•....••••..•............•......•.•••.•••••••• 

n Measurements from another indiYidual of about the same proportions (No. 7956). 

RESTORATION OF BRACHYCERATOPS. 

A cmnplete skeletal restoration of Brachyceratop$ montanensis, about one-fifth natural size, is shown in Plate IV. 

The total length of. the animal from the end of the nose 

to the tip of the tail is about 6 feet 9 inches, and its height 

at the hips about 2 feet 4 inches. 

This restoration is based on the remains of several individuals and is the fu'St atten1pt thus to depict one of the 

mu·lier ceratopsians. The bones drawn in outline were not 

represented in the collections and have been supplied in a 

1nodi:fied fonn from other specimens, preferably from those 

found in the Judith River formation. The presacral region. 

has been given the same nwnber of vertebrae as are found 

in the articulated series belonging to the type specin1en of 

T-riceratops brevicornus I-I a tcher. 

The sacrun1, pelvis, femora, and t~il were found in so 

close association that they unquestionably pertain to one 

individual (No. 7953, U. S. N. M.). In fact, the caudal 

vertebrae were nearly all articulated, and this complete series 

is of especial interest as giving us the first adequate conception of the cera~opsian tail. It shows this appendage to be 

considerably longer than has been represented in· previous 

restorations of Lance. ceratopsians. Whether this lengthening is peculiar to the prin1iti\;e forms fron1 the Judith River 

and Belly River fonnations rmnains to be detern1ined. 

73 

24 12 

38 

28 6 

24 

18 

13 

a95 

28 

The structure of the fore foot as shown is perhaps somewhat conjectural, although it is based on an articulated fore 

foot of Leptoceratops, a ceratopsian fron1 the Edmonton fornlation of Canada, a drawing of which was generously supplied 

by Mr. Barnmn Brown, of the An1erican Museun1 of Natural 

I-Iistory. . 

FIGURE 47.-Left bind foot of Bracllyceratops mon· 

tanensis. No. 7956, U.S.N. M. One-half natural 

size. Shown as found in place. t, Tarsal bones 

of the distal row; u, ungual; I, II, III, and IV, 

digits 1 to 4, respectively. 

· The few bones of the manus presei1t in the collection have been inserted in accordanee with 

the evidence of this articulated foot. 

1 Hatcher, J. B., The Ceratopsia: U.S. Geol. Survey Mori. 49, fig. 73 (d, e,f), 1907. 
36 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

The animal is represented standing, with the no~e throWn downward, a position that is well , 

adapted for the most ·effective use of the strong nasal horn, and that also brings the head within 

easy feeding distance of the ground. · 

The· fore limbs are strongly flexed, principally on the evidence of the well-developed olecranon on the ulna. The tail drops rapidly from the sacrum, its distal portion, in life, evidently 

dragging upon the ground. The scapula has been placed in a somewhat horizontal position 

well down on the side of the ribs, in accordance with the evidence of the position of this bone 

in several articulated skeletons of the trachodontt dinosaurs. The great elevation of the transverse processes of the dorsal vertebrae, reaching nearly to the top of the spinous processes, is 

well shown, as is also the relative shortness in height, compa.red with those of the anterior part, 

of the spinous processes of the posterior dorsal and sacral vertebrae, which in Triceratops are the 

highest of the column. The specimen throws little light on the proper articulation of the ischia • 

with the other elements of the sacrum, and the resto,ration of these bones has been made in 

accordance with tlre mounted skeleton of Triceratops· in the United States N a'tiona1 Museum. 

A life restoration of Brachyceratops, about one-sixth natural size, based on the articulated 

skeleton (Pl. IV) is shown in Plate I. The pose is much the same as that of the skeleton. 

It js the first restoration of a ceratopsian dinosaur in which an. attempt has been made to 

indicate the nonimbricating, scalelike texture of the skin. This feature of the restored animal 

is based on a recently discovered specimen 1 of Protorosaurus, with which well-preserved inlpressions of the skins were found. 

It appears fair to assun1e that all the horned dinosaurs \vere covered by a scaled integument, 

although the pattern of the scales probably varied in the different genera. In the present restoration the skin pattern is modified after the figures and description gi~en by Lambe. The 

impression' of the integument shows the plates to have been generally five and six sided, with a 

sunken peripheral margin. In size they appear to increasefro·m below upward. Other impressions low down on the body indicate that these parts were covered with small tubercles and 

tha~ the large plates were absent. The pattern of the skin as here depicted is exaggerated in 

the s~ze of the plates, as it was hardly practicable to reduce them to the same scale as the model. 

Following Lull in his restorations of ceratopsian heads, I have represented the gape of the 

mouth as being short. 

RELATIONS OF BRACHYCERATOPS. 

At this time it is difficult to arrive at a satisfactory cqnclusion regarding the· true affinities 

of Brachyceratops.;· first, because of the fragmentary nature of some of the specirnens on which 

the more primitive ceratopsian genera are based; and, second, because of the recent discoveries 

of new n1aterials, much of which is as yet undescribed and which promises to materially change 

. previously accepted views of relationships. 

In the preliminary account 2 of Brachyceratops I stated that "it would appear most nearly 

allied to Monoclonius," and after an interval of more than two years still hold this opinion. 

Brown 3 has recently redefined the genus Jfonoclonius, and this definition, based entirely on 

skull characters, with two exceptions would apply equally well to the genus Brachyceratops. 

It is as follows: 

Skull small to medium sized, with three horns; nasal horn large, curved or straight, rising from middle of nasals 

immediately above the posterior border of the nares; supraorbital horns small or incipient and flattened on the outer 

surface. Nasals large; nares nearly separated by osseous septum· formed by premaxillaries and nasals. Premaxillaries deep with vertical plate forming septum, nonfenestrated. . Crest composed of short, broad squamosals and extension of elongate coossified postfrontals (parietals) [dermcisuprnoccipitals] perforated by large•fenestrae; .each fenestra 

wholly within the boundary of the postfrontal [dermosupraoccipitals]. Margin of crest crenulated, each prominence 

bearing a separate ossification. A pair of long curved hooklike processes on posterior border of postfrontals [dermosupraoccipitals l" · . 

1 Lambe, L. M., On the fore limb of a carnivorous dinosaur from the Belly River formation of Alberta, and a new genus of Ceratopsia from ·the 

same horizon, with remarks on the integument of some cretaceous herbivorous dinosaurs: Ottawa Naturalist, vol. 27, p. 132, pl. 14, January, 1914. 

2 Gilmore, C. W.,·A new ceratopsian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Montana, with note on Hypacrosaurus: Smithsonian Misc. Coli., 

vol. 63, p. 9, Mar. 14, 1914. 

a Brown, Barnum, A complete skull of .llfonoclonius, from the Belly River Cretaceous of Alberta: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 33, pp. 549-558, 

Oct. 8, 1914. 
BRACHYCERATOPS MONTANENSIS GILMORE. 37 

Brachyceratops, however, does not have separate ossifications on the prominences around 

the borders of the crest or frill, nor are there any "hooklike processes" on the median posterior 

border of the dermosupraoccipital. The fenestrae in the frill are decidedly smaller than ir1 

any recognized species of Monoclonius, and it has not yet been demonstrated that Monoclonius 

has its nasal horn divided longitudinally, as in Brachycer.atops. The latter feature wouldrepresent a n1ost in1portant structural difference, provided such a difference can be shown to· exist, 

but I mn of the opinion that when juvenile specimens of Monoclonius are found they will also 

show a similar development of the nasal horn core. 

Lambe 1 has proposed a division of the Ceratopsia into three subfamilies, the Centrosaurinae, the Eoceratopsinae, and the Chasmosaurinae, named from the most primitive n1ember qf 

each group. Brachycera.tops is included with Oentrosaurus (regarded by Brown 2 as being a 

synonym of Monoclonius) and Styracosaurus in "the subfamily Centrosaurinae. This subfamily 

is characterized by genera having representatives with "small brow horns, a large nasal horn, 

and parietal [der1nosupraoccipital] expanded behind short squamosals." 

An article by Barnum Brown3 described the new ceratopsian dinosaur Leptoceratops gracilis, 

w~1ich he considers a primitive, aberrant type related to Brachyceratops. Further he says: 

"The complete skeleton will probably show characters sufficiently diverse to warrant founding· 

a new family to include Leptoceratops and Brachyceratops, * * * and from the material 

now available· the two genera appear to be distinguished frorp. allied g·enera by ·characters of· 

at least subfamily rank." In so far as Leptoceratops is concerned the proposed classification is 

quite acceptable, but careful study of Brown's paper. fails to disclose charact,ers showing that 

Leptoceratops and Brachyceratops are so closely related. Certainly a comparison of the skeJetal parts does not reveal such close affinities. Both, it.is true, belong to the Ceratopsia and both 

are diminutive men1bers of that order, put there, for the most part, their close resemblance 

ends. This is clearly shown by the comparison of their n1ore importa1it characters in the parallel 

colmnns below: 

Leptoceratops. 

Skeleton ............ : ...... .. Small ................................ . Skull ........................ . Nasal horn ................... . Short and deep ....................... . None ........... : ..................... . Crest ................. · ........ . Posterior border of crest ....... . SquamosaL ................... . 

High, thin sagittal ridge ................ . Smooth, without median, emargination .. . Extending to extreme posterior border of 

crest. 

Teeth ........................ . Dentary ...................... . Single rooted .... _.._ ................... . Massive, short, and deep ............... . 

Do ........................ Less than 15 rows df teeth .............. . Splenial ....................... ' Large, extending to symphysis ......... . Predentary .................... Long and narrow ...................... . . Manus ......................... Digits I, II, and III terminating in hoofs. 

Carpals ....................... Ossified, ulnars and radials large ....... .. Pemur... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Straight; fourth trochanter comparatively 

large. 

Tail. .'........................ Long and deep, with high, slender spines 

and long chevrons. 

Brachyceratops. 

Small. 

Short and deep. 

\Veil developed. • Low, obtuse sagittal ridge. 

Undulating, with median emargination. 

Short, extending a little more than halfway to extreme border of crest. 

Not determined. 

Relatively slender, of medium length, narrow. More than 15 rows of teeth. 

Not present. 

Moderate length and width . Not known. 

Do. 

Straight; fourth trochanter moderately 

developed. 

Long, with short, heavy spines and rcla- . tively short chevrons. 

Other differences n1ight be given, for only the generic and specific characters as enumerated by Brown are contrasted above. 'These, however, appear to show enough fundamental 

differences in' the skeletal structure to preclude the con~lusion that they are closely related. 

That the genus Brachyceratops represents one of the more generalized forms of the Ceratopsidae is apparent; that it can not be included in either th~ O~ratops-Torosa'l_frus or the Eocera1 lAtrobe, IJ. S., On Eoceratops canadensis gen. nov., with remarks on other genera of Cretaceous horned dinosaurs: Canada Geol. Survey Mus. 

Dull. 12. p. 20, May 7, 1915. · 

s Brown, Barnum, op. cit., p. 551. 

B·Leptoceratops, a now genus of Coratopsia from the Edmonton Cretaceous of Alberta: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 33, pp. 567-580, 1914. 
38 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

tops-Triceratops phylum is also evident, for it is hardly conceivable that an animallikeBrachyceratops, having a nasal horn split longitudiilally by suture and an outgrowth from the nasal bones, 

could be the progenitor of later ceratopsians having this horn developed from ,a center of ossification distinct from the nasal bones. · 

Brachyceratops apparently represents a phylum c01nmencing prior to Judith River time, 

which either died out before the Lance or the representatives of which have not yet been discovered. · · Family_ TRACHODONTIDAE. 

The great number of their remains appears to indicate that the trachodonts were the 

most abundant dinosaurs of Two Medicine time. Four genera of Trachodontidae are now 

generally recognized from the Judith River and Belly River formations, and these display 

nearly as much variety of ,form and structure as the contemporary Ceratopsidae .. In the 

collection from the Two Medicine formation four distinct genera are recognized: (I) llypacrosaurus; which has been regarded .as the largest of all trachodonts; (2) Stephanosaurus~· (3) 

a specimen which is too incomplete to describe but which apparently belongs to an undescribed 

genus that may be separated from the crested trachodonts (liypacrosaurus, Saurolophus, 

.and Stephanosaurus) by its possession of a long, _straight ischium without terminal expansion 

of its distal end and with ilia that distinguish it g~nerically from the Lance trachodonts; and 

(4) .a very large humerus and scapula from the Two Medicine locality, comparable in its great 

size with a trachodont fore foot and limb from the Edmonton formation· of Alberta, now in 

the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. 

Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown. 

Iiypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown is represented .in the collections by a partly disarticulated skeleton 1 (No. 7948~ U.S. N. M.), the bones of which are in an excellent state of preservation. The specimen was found by Mr. Stebinger in 1912 and was collected by me the following summer from the south side of Milk R~ver, in the NW. t sec. 27, T. 37 N., R. 8 W., on 

the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Teton County, Mont. (See Pl. II, A, p. 2.) It consists of 

the left ramus and jugal, two cervical processes,. nine sacral centra with sacral ribs, five caudals, 

an anterior chevron, three posterior ribs, eight spines pertaining to the dorsal and sacral region, 

left ilium, both pubes, left femur, both tibiae and fibulae, both of metatarsi III, distal portion 

of metatarsal IV, five phalanges, both ulnae, metacarpal IV, and several fragments. 

The specimen is of especial interest as greatly extending the known geologic and geographic 

range of the genus Iiypacrosaurus. After a careful comparison with the description and 

figures of the type, I am unable to distinguish it fr0m the only known species, II. altispinus, 

from the Edmonton Cretaceous of Canada, described by Brown. 2. The specimen is smaller and 

perhaps younger (as indicated by the open sutures of the skull and sacrum) than any of the 

typical specimens, but all of its bones, so far as they can be compared, are remarkably 

similar in shape and proportions to those of II. altispinus. . 

The left dentary, nearly perfect (see ·fig. 48), _but without teeth, and the complete jugal 

. (see fig. 49) of this specimen are all that is known of the head of Iiypacrosaurus. Its "footed" 

ischium, however, suggests the probability of its having a -crested skull of the Saurolophus or 

Stephanosaurus type. 

The jugal (see fig. 49) is relatively short and in its contours and proportions is rmnarkably 

similar to the jugal of Stephanosa·urus marginatus Lambe. It has a greatest length of 238 milli-

. 'meters and a depth at c1,3nter of 180 millimeters. · 

As compared with the Lance trachodonts the dentary of the present specimen is reinarkably 

slender. (See fig. 48.) Its greatest length is 544 millimeters; its depth at the middle of the magazine is 86 millimeters; the distance in front of the ma'gazine to the anterior end of the sym1 Gilmore, C. W ., A new ceratopsian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Montana, with note on Hypacrosattrus: Smithsonian Misc. Coli., 

vol. 63, No.3, p. 10, 1914. \ 

2 Brown, Barnum, A new trachodont dinosaur, Hypacrosaurus, from the Edmonton Cretacoous of Alberta: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 

32, pp. 395-406, 1913. . ' 
HYPACROSAURUS ALTISPINUS? BROWN. 39 

FIGURE 4 .-Left dentary of IIypacrosaurus altispinus 1 Brown. No. 7948, U. S. N. M. One.fourth nat ural size. Internal view. 

a 

FIGURE 49.-Left lachrymal of Hypacrosaurus altispinus1 Brown. No. 7948, U. S. )l'. M. One-half natural size. Lateral view. a, Anterior 

end; p, posterior end. 

FIGURE 50.-Right ilium of Hypacrosaurus altispinus? Brown. No. 7948, U. S. K. M. One-eighth natural size. Lateral view. 
40 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

F IGURE 51.-Le!t pubis of Ilypacrosaurus altispinust Brown. No. 7948, U. S. N. M. One-fourth natural size . External view. 

FIGURE 52.-Anterior caudal vertebra of Hypacrosaurus alti· 

spinust Brown. No. 7948, U.S.N. M. One-hall natural size. 

Viewed !rom left side. 

physial surface is 120 millimeters; the length of 

the dental magazine is 293 millimeters. It has 39, 

possibly 40, alveolar grooves. 

The distance from the front of the dental magazine to the end of the symphysial surface is relatively shorter and has a more abrupt downward 

deflection in the Judith River forms than it has in 

those from the Lance. 

The ilium (see fig. 50) has a strongly arched 

superior border, with a preacetabular process compressed and of almost uniform transverse thickness; 

the pubis (see fig. 51) is comparatively short and has 

its anterior portion broadly expanded. 

Well-preserved anterior and median caudal 

vertebrae are shown in figures 52 and 53. The 

F IGURE 53.-Median caudal vertebra or Hypacrosaurus alti· 

spinust Brown. No. 7948, U. S.N. M. One-fourth natural 

size. Viewed !rom right side. 
STEPHANOSAURUS MARGINATUS? (LAMBE). 41 

spines are high and strongly inclined backward. The centrum of the anterior caudal is slightly 

more than one-quarter of the total height of the vertebra. The median caudal shows a lengthened centrum with shallowly biconcave ends. Well-defined chevron facets are present on 

both back and front. 

The following measurements show the resemblance of the Milk River specimen (No. 7948, 

U. S. N. M.) to the type (No. 5204) and paratype (No. 5272) of Fl. altispinus in the American 

Museum of Nat ural History: . · 

Comparative measurements, in millimeters, of specimens of Hypa.crosaurus altispinus. 

Am .. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. U. S. N. :M. 

Type No. No. 7948. 

5204. 

Ilium: 

Extreme length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 060 920 

I-Ieight ................................................................ ~......... 320 270 

Pubis: 

Greatest length at center.......................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . 440 

Narrowest width of bhi.de ............... ~ .............. , .......................... ·. 120 100 

Greatest width of blade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 

Caudal vertebra: 

Length of centrum, first or second ....... -.· ...................... ~................. 90 60 

Width of centrum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 120 

Height over all ................................................. ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 535 

Height of spine above neural canal................................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . 410 

Para type 

No .. 5272, 

Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. 

Ulna, length.......................................................................... 750 

f~~;;r£;~: ~~~:t~: ":: : : : : : : : : : :: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :: :: : : : : : : : : :: : : :: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ...... i: ~:~. Fibula, length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 000 

Metatarsal III, length ......................................... .. ·_. .................. :. 430 

Stephanosaurus marginatus? (Lambe). 

670 

265 

1,035 

1,000 

935 

400 

The posterior portion of a right dentary without teeth (No. 8052, U.S. J:f. M.) provisionally 

. identified as pertaining to Stephanosaurus marginatus (Lambe) was obtained from the Two 

Medicine River locality during the summer of 1913. (See fig. 54.) 

The general proportions of this bone;with high coronoid process without marked anteroposterior expansion of its upper extremity, agrees perfectly with the dentary of S. marginatus 

as figured by Lambe 1 from the Belly River formation on Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada. 

A secot1d specimen (No. 7703, U.S.N. M.), provisionally referred to this genus and species, 

was obtained by Mr. Stebinger in 1912 from the Two Medicine formation on Two Medicine 

River. It consists of a fragment of a dentary containing several teeth whose lateral margins 

are decorated with small rounded projections or pappillae from a point near the apex down-: 

ward to the place where the crown begins to narrow again. 

Trachodont gen. and sp. undet. 

A fragmentary skeleton (No. 8058, U. S. N. M.) of a trachodont dinosaur from the Two 

Medicine River locality is of interest as having ischia of the Lance trachodont style (that is, without expanded distal extremities) associ~ted with ilia that resemble most nearly those of the 

crested forms like Saurolophus and Hypacrosaurus. Whether these remains represent an 

1 Lumbo, L.M., On VertebrotaoftheMid-Cretaceousofthe Northwest Territory: Contr.Canadian Paleontology, vol. 3, pt. 2, p. 73, pl.4, fig.l,.l902. 
42 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

undescribed genus or pertain to one of the described members of this group that have been 

based on skulls it is not possible to say at this time. 

The specimen was found about a mile below the abandoned ranch buildings of John Edwards, on the south side of the river, at the base of the high exposures (about the middle of the 

Two Medicine formation). (See fig. 1, p. 2.) The bones received are two ilia, two ischia, 

two dorsal and three caudal vertebrae, three chevrons, and fragmentary parts. 

The ischia (see fig. 55) are slenderer than thosy in any described trachodont, having an 

extreme length of 880 millimeters and a diameter across the iliac and pubic heads of 230 millimeters. The most striking feature of the ischia is the presence on the inferior border of the 

expanded end of an elliptical foramen-like notch (j, fig. 55). In the Lance trachodonts there 

is usually a slight indentation at this point, and in Sau,rolophus tho place is entirely inclosed 

FIGURE 54.-Right dentary of Stephanosaurus marginatus? (Lambe). No. 8052, U.S.N. M . One-half natural size. Internal view. 

by bone forming a foramen. In Hypacrosaurus tho ischium shows a long, shallow indentation 

more like that in theLance trachodonts. 

Below the expanded proximal end the shaft contracts abruptly and continues as a long, 

slender rod that expands only slightly toward the distal end. The inner surface of the distal 

two-thirds is longitudinally striated, indicating the ligamenta} union with its mate of the opposite side. The ilium (see fig. 56) has about the same outline and form as in Saurolophus and 

Hypacrosaurus. Vertically it is narrower than in Hypacrosaurus, and the preacetabular process 

is flattened and is relatively longer and narrower. It appears to agree with Cope's brief description 1 of the ilium of Pteropelyx grallipes Cope. Whether it should be referred to that form 

remains to be determined. Measurements of the right ilium are given below. 

Millimeters. 

Greatest length ................... ..... .. .... ......................... .......... .... ..... . 880 

Greatest height ......... . ....................... . .............. -.. . ----... --- .. -.. -. -----. 205 

Depth at center of acetabulum........ .. .. . . ... . ..................... .. ..... .. ..... ...... 170 

Length of preacetabular process ............. .... ............. -.. -- -- -- -- -------- -- -- ------ 405 

Length of postacetabular process .................................... -. ------- ------- -- ---- 240 

• Cope, E. D., Notes on the Dinosauria of the Laramie: American Naturalist, vol. 23, p. 904, 1889. 
EUROPLOCEPHALUS. 43 

Trachodont gen. and sp. undet. 

A scapula and humerus (No. 7955, U.S.N. M.) of an exceedingly large trachodont reptile 

were collected on Two Medicine River. (See Pl. II, B, and fig. 1, p. 2.) While the material is 

insufficient to determine the genus and species to which it belongs, the specimen is of interest 

on account of its resembling most nearly a fore limb and foot from the Edmonton Cretaceous 

of Canada, now in the American Museum of Natural History. 

p 

FIGURE 55.-Left ischium of unidentified trachodont reptile . No. 8058, U. S. X . M. One-eighth natural size. External view. /, Notch; 

i, ilium articulation; p, pubic articulation. 

The measurements, however, show that the specimen has a smaller scapula and a much 

longer humerus than Saurolophus osborni/ and these differences at once separate it from that 

genus. 

Comparative measurements, in millimeters, of Trachodon sp., Trachodon annectens, and Saurolophus osborni. 

Greatest length of scapula ................................................. . Greatest width of blade of scapula .............. ............. _ ..... _. _ ...... . Greatest length of humerus ....... ..... ................................... . 

Greatest transverse diameter, distal end ............... .... ............. .. .. . 

a Estimated. 

Type: I Type: 

Trachodon Trachodon Saurolop_hus 

annectens N • osbornt 

(No. 2414, sp. ( o. 795'"'• (No. 5220, 

U.S.N.M.). U.S.N.M.). Am. Mus. 

810 

200 

501 

105 

910 

208 

a 760 

180 

Nat. Hist.). 

979 

230 

500 

FIGURE 56.-Right ilium of unidentified trachodont reptile. No. 8058, U.S.N. M. One-eighth natural size. Lateral view. 

Family ANKYLOSAURIDAE. 

Europlocephalus sp. 

A coossified transverse row of dermal plates or scutes (see fig. 57) is identified as pertaining to this genus. The keeling of the scutes differs somewhat from a row of plates pertaining to the type of Europlocephalus tutus Lambe, from Belly River, Canada, as figured by 

Lambe. 2 

'Brown, Barnum, The skeleton of Saurolophus, a crested duck-billed dinosaur from tbe Edmonton Cretaceous: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., 

vol. 32, p. 392, 1913. 

'Lambe, L. M., On Vertebrata of the. Mid-Cretaceous of the Northwest Territory: Contr. Canadian Paleontology, vol. 3, pt. 2, pl. 12, figs. 

3, 4, 1902. . 

54025°-17-4 
44 BRACHYCERATOPS. 

The specimen was found on Milk River, a short distance from the place where the type of 

Brachyceratops montanensis was discovered, at a slightly higher horizon. It consists of two 

entire scutcs and a portion of a third, all firmly coossified. The under surface is arched transversely and probably represents the first row of plates posterior to the skull. The plates are 

subrectangular in outline, wider than long, with a raised median portion that is longer than 

wide, and is surmounted by a blunt nodelike spine asymmetrically placed, as contrasted with the 

sharply keeled scutes of Europlocephalus tutus Lambe. 

The union of the plates on the dorsal surface is plainly discernible, but the sutures on the 

ventral side are entirely obliterated. Vascular markings are conspicuous on the upper surfaces, 

especially on the raised median portions. (See fig. 57.) Although this specimen is identified 

as pertaining to the genus Europlocephalus, it might with equal propriety be referred to Anlcylosaurus, or it :r;nay represent an undescribed form. 

FIGURE 57.-Dermal plates of Europlocephalus sp. No. 7943, U.S.N. M. One-third natural size. Dorsal view. 

Class CHELONIA. 

Basilemys sp. 

The genus Basilemys is represented by fragmentary parts of the carapace and plastron, 

several vertebral centra, one humerus, and fragments of other limb bones, all regarded as belonging to one individual (No. 8024, U.S.N. M.). 

Dr. 0. P. Hay was kind enough to spend some time in studying the specimen, and he is of 

the opinion that it belongs either to Basilemys nobilis Hay, the type of which is from the beds in 

New Mexico described by Brown as the Ojo Alamo formation, or to a closely related species. 

B. nobilis has as its distinguishing character a high ridge, or wall, around the upper side of 

the hinder lobe of the plastron. In the specimen this ridge is high in front but is reduced 

farther behind and is rather flat. This change may possibly be due to individual variation. 

The specimen was found in sec. 27, T. 37 N., R. 8 W., on the south side of Milk River, 

somewhat below the horizon in which the Ilypacrosaurus skeleton (No. 7948) was obtained. 

The specimen is of interest as apparentl'y corroborating the dinosaurian evidence for the correlation of the Belly River formation with Brown's Ojo Alamo formation. 1 

1 Sinclair, W. J., and Granger, Walter, Paleocene deposits of the SanJuan Basin, N.Mex.: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 33, pp. 302,303,1914. 
INDEX. 

Page. 

Acknowledgments to those aiding................................ 1 

Ankylosaurldne .................................................. 43-44 

:Dasilronys sp ....................... ·.............................. 44 

Brochyceratops montnnonsis Gihnoro............................ 7-38 

allsphonoid of................................................. 13 

caudal vertebrae of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-24 

views of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 24 

chevrons or ................................................. . 

vJow of .......................................... : ...... . 

dontury of .................................................•• 

25 

26 

16 

viewsof ........................ ·......................... 17 

dermo-supraoccipital of ...................................... 11-12 

views of ................................ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13, 14 

oxoccipital of ............................................. :.. 14 

view of................................................... 14 

femur of .................. ; .................... 1•••••••••••••• 30 

vlowsor .................. ,............................... 32 

fibula of...................................................... 31 

view of................................................... 33 

foro foot of ................................... ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2?-28 

viewsof.................................................. 28 

hind foot of .................................................. 31-35 

moosuromonts of......................................... 35 

view or ..........................•....................... 34,35 

illutn of ...................................................... 28-29 

measurements of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

views or ............ •,• .................................... 29,30 

ischilllll or. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-30 

vlow or................................................... 31 

lachrytnul or ................................................. 12-13 

Inaxillaries of ............................................. ,·.. 15 

views of................................................... 15 

nasals of..................................................... 9 

viow of .... ·.............................................. 10 

osteology of .......... · . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35 

postfrontals of ................................. · .............. 10-11 

vlew or .................................................. 10-11 

postorbitals of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

vi ow or .................................. · ..... ·'· . . . . . . . . . 12 

prodontary of... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

view or ..................... ·················· .. ········· 16 

pr~frontals of................................................ 9-10 

views or.................................................. 11 

premaxillary of. ............................................ . 

viow of ................................................. . 

pubis of ..................................................... . 

view of .............................. , .................. . 

radius of .................................................... . 

viowor ................................................. . 

14' 

14 

29 

30 

27 

28 

relat1ons or .................................. ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-38 

restoration or ....................................... · ......... 35-36 

views or.................................................. 1,34 

ribs or ........................................................ 25-26 

view or.................................................. 25 

rostral of ............•........ : . ..................... · . . . . . . . 15 

viewof...... ............................................ H! 

sacrum or. .... .' .............................................. 21-24 

views or .. ············································· 20,21,22 

scapLtla of.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 

viow or................................................... 27 

skull of ............................. · ...................... :.. 8-18 

Inoasuromonts of......................................... 18 

vJows or..................................................... 8,9 

Page . . Brachyceratops ·montunensis Gilmore-Continued. 

supratemporal fossae of ...................................... 16-18 

teeth of...................................................... 16 

views of.................................................. 18 

tibiS of....................................................... 31 

viewof.................. ................................. 33 

ulna of....................................................... 27 

view of.................................................. 27 

vertebrae of. ................................................. 19-24 

views of. .............................................. 19, 20,24 

vertebral column of ....................................... · ... 19-24 

Brown, Barnum, definition by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

on Ceratopsia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Ceratopsia, development of .............. :....................... 4-5 

occurrence or. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Ceratopsidae ·Marsh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:..33 

Champsosaurus, rnnge of......................................... 6 

Chelonia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Crocodiles, occurrence of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Cut Bnnk, Moi\t., fossils from vicinity of ........................ . 

views near ............................. , .................... . 

Dawson, G. M., on Belly River formation........................ 2 

Europlocephalus sp.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43-44 

dermal plates of, view of..................................... 44 

Hatcher, J. B., on 'l'rachodontidae ..... ~...... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Hypacrosaurus altispinus Brown ................................ 38-41 

dentary of, view of ................... " ............... !....... 39 

ilium of, view of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

lachrymal of, view of.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

measurements of .. :.......................................... 41 

pubis of, view of ............................... '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

vertebrae of, views of........................................ 40 

Judith River formation, correlation of............................ 2-3 

fauna of. ..................................................... . 

Knowlton, F. H., on flora of Two Medicine formation . . . .. .. . .. . 2 

Lambe, L. S., on subdivision of Ceratopsia....................... 37 

Milk River, fossils from ......................................... . 

views on..................................................... 1 

Montnna group, columnar section of ......................... :. . . . 2 

correlation of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 

Stanton, 'l'. W., on fatma of Two Medicine formation. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Stebinger, Eugene, on stratigraphy of Two Medicine formation... 1-3 

work of. .................................................... . 

Stephanosaurus marginatus Lambe.............................. 41 

Strayrer, J. F., work of.......................................... 1 

Trachodont ............................. -......................... 41-44 

abundance of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 5 

dentary of, view of ........................ .' ..... -............ 42 

genera of .................................... :. . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6, 38-43 

ilium of, measurements of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

view of.................................................. 43 

ischium of, view or.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Turtles, occurrence of............................................ 4, 7 

Two Medicine formation, correlation of........................... 2-3 

fossilsfrom ................... : ............................. 1,2,3-7 

stratigraphy of............................................... 1-3 

views of ................ ~..................................... 1 

Two Medicine River, fossils from ................................ . 

vie~ on ..................................................... . 

45 

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