Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1880-07-01
wONDRarrL FOSSIL noNES.


Monsters that Once Inhabited Ininnd sens
IN Aansas and Colorndo---t'racSdtIe-ll lie IN =
Reptiles $50 Feet Ia IeaEth---sea ser.
pents MsasurlRE 100 Feet.--Prsdtsisn.
Thigh bones.
AMONG the recent additions of inter
est 10 the Department of Geology IN the
Museum Of Natural History at Central
Iark aro some monster bones. taken
from the ancient seas pf Kansas and
Colorado, and representing n race Of
creatures which had reached the maxi
mum Of physical growth known on this
globe. The discoveries were originally
made by Prof. Nudge, recently de.
ceased, whose name Is connected with
all tho important discoveries of the
great West, and by Prof Marsh.
The States Of Kansas ana Colorado,
during what is known ia geological par
lance as the Age OF REPTILES, contained
great salt and fresh water inland seas.
whose swamps and lowiands swarmed
with creatures Of heroulpan Dimensions.
The manCdiScS teTros. or bad lands Of
Colorado, and the arid, chalky deserts
of kansas, are the beds of these ancient
seas, and on account OF the sterllity and
Darrenness of the country, very few
'eimted them. Finally, science insert
ed tho entering wedge, an expedition
crossed, the waste, and scenes were
opened to view that cqualed in truth
the eNaggeratiOns of Verne. The dry
chalky sand had been worn by wind and
rain into Thousand different shapes.
Castles and bastions of immense size
lowered aloft. fanked by flying but
tressos of Natures own design Spires,
sharp and Jagged, pierced the air, ris-
ing from domes suggestive OF Moorish
designs and the Alconda. while the red,
yellow and blue olays gave to the whole
fantastic appearance, In forming
these quaint shapes the elements ex-
posed 10 view innumerable bones and
skeletons of forms that once swan over
the spot. Prof. Marsh says. a In one
place l counted the remains of five
huge monsters spread upon the plain.
Some OF the bones, IL was found. were
portions OF reptiles related 30 the alli-
gator and crocodile Others apparent
ly belonged 10 the skeletons of sea SER
pents. SO complete are the remains
that restoration of the skeletons en-
tire will be comparatively easy mat
ter. Fort Riley, Kan. stands upon
the shores of this pre-. historic waste.
lho basin OF this ancient ocean fills the
great tract lying between Missouri and
the Rocky Mountains, and extending
from the Gull Of Mexico an unknown
distance 70 the north, The disturbances
that ended the preceding era caused
gonerM elevation Of the surface, and
gradually the seas and lakes became
dry land The sea bottom, which is of
limestone, became monster grave
yard OF marine life.
Inc country for miles has been wash
ed away, leaving here ard there lofty
monuments of sandstone. The ex-
pedtions not only found the remains of
huge quadrupeds here, but also OYSTER
shells OF great size scattered over the
plains. Some Of the shells were open.
Others were closed. and all were Of
such size that did they contain the
mOllusk itself, five or six OF them
would yield meal for a whole party.
Some Of them measured 80 inches
across. AT the foot OF some of the bluffs.
portions of monsters were discovered
the remainderofiheirv vertebral columns
being buried In the limestone 10 un.
known depths. Here paddle protrtld-
ed, there a jaw armed with tremendous
teeth. The reptiles found in Kansas,
numbering over 90 species, vary in
length from 10 TO 200 feet. On this
ancient ocean the ancestor OF tho sea
serpent Of 70 day dsported itself. Its
shape was such as to enable Il 20 reach
upward and exhibited long taperine
neck and arrow. shaped head. A specimen
Of an immense snake-liko Species (the
Ciidastes) has recently been found
at Canon City. II had evidently died
while lying on its back. The flippers