The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-07-02

In hnnsns aud tutesAuo---a fotndtlt-lthE
Reptiles 15O Feet ~ Lcngsh---sen SER
pen Measuring 100 F.et---Prods sious
Thigh ifones.
AMOxG the recent additions of inter-
est 10 the Department OF Geology In the
Museum OF Natural History at Central
Park are some monster bones. taken
from the ancient seas Of Kansas and
Colorado. and representing 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globe The discoveries were originally
made by Prof.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 il connected with
al the important discoveries Of the
great West. and by Prof Marsh.
The States ~ Kansas ana Colorado
during what j. known in geological par
lance ~ the Are Of Reptiles. contained
great salt and fresh-waler inland seas.
wno~c swanps and lOwands swarmed
with creatures Of hercnlean dimensions.
The piauroiscs TIRES. or bad land, Of
Colorado. and the arid. chalsy deserts
OF Kansas. are the beds OF these ancient
seas. and on account Of the stcrilify aud
barrenness of the country. very few
people. except occasional miners. pen
ctratcd them. Finally. science insert
ca the entering wedge an expedition
crossed the waste. and scenes We're
opened TO view that cqualcd in truth
the eNaygerations Of Verne The dry
chalky sand had been worn by wind and
rain into Thousand diilerent shapes.
Castles ami basiions ~ immense sizc
lowered aloft. flanked by flying but
iresses 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 clays gave toihe whole
fantastic appearance. In forming
these quaint shapes the elements cX-
posed 10 view innumerable bones and
skeletons Of forms that once swan over
the spot. Prof. Marsh saws: \. In one
place counted the remains Of five
huge monsters spread upon the plain. "
Some OF the bones. il was found. we're
portions Of reptiles related TO the alli-
gator and crocodile. Others apparent
" belonged TO the skeletons Of sea SER
penis. 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 prehistoric waste.
The basin Of this ancient ocean fills the
great tract lying between Missouri and
the Rocky Mountains. and extending
from the Gulf Of Mexico an unknown
distance to the north. The disturbances
that ended the preceding era caused a
general 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.
The country for miles has been wash
ed away, leaving here and there lofty
monuments of sandstone The ex-
pcditions 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 we're closed, and all were Of
such size that did they contain the
molusk itself, five or six Of them
would yield a meal for whole party.
Some Of them measured 30 inches
across. AT the foot Of some ofthe bluffs.
portions Of monsters were discovered.
the remainderoftheir vcftcbral columns
being buried in the limestone To un-
known depths. Here paddle protrud-
I'd, there jaw armed with tremendous
teeth. The reptiles found In Kansas.
numbering over 80 species, vary in
length from 10 10 200 feet. On this
ancient ocean the ancestor Of the sea
serpent Of to day disportcd itself. IT.
shape was such a. TO enable L 10 reach
upward and exhibited long tapcring
neck andarrow-shapedhead. Aspccimen
u an immense snake-likc species Chc
Clidastcs) has recently been found
AZ Canon City. II had evidently died
while lying on its back. The clippers
Or paddles were found NJ some dis
lance from the body. The tape-mcas..
ure laid along the vcrtebrsr indicated
4 length Of 70 feet. The tail alone
measured "a feet. and evidently tapcrcd
down toa delicate point. The rows
Of terrible teeth were viscs for holding
prey, but a. they were Of no use foi
cuttingit up, II must have been swal