Evening star., 1911-08-20

y the various collections of exhibits
which are being opened to the public
at the National Museum as rapidly
~ as possible are to be found con-
siderable number of specimens never
before exhibited. Among these, and per-
haps taking first place, are two skeletons
10 be found in the hall containing the
fossil reptile and mammal exhibits. The
reasons for these two specimens being
worthy Of special attention are many,
but not the least among them Is that
each is the only mounted specimen of it's
kind in existence. and that each is the
only visible remains of reptiles which
lived nore than ten million years ago.
Whether taken from the student S
standpoint or that Of the layman, these
specimens present interesting problems.
BY no means the relics Of the oldest
known reptiles, these two are at least
among the most weird as TO build. and
believers OF the aged sea-serpent tales
are apt to find a strong rival In these
grotesdue specimens OF the reptile king
dom One of these specimens goes scien-
tifically by the name of camptosaurus
browni, a term which may more readily
be remembered by translating II as 'fiex-
ible lizard"
The other specimen. which. by the way.
is a distant cousin OF the camptosaurus,
Is known by the euphonious name Of cer-
atosauris. This. too. can be changed into
the more nearly English title of horned
nose lizard" title bestowed from the
fact that in life this reptile was armed
with a formidable horn on his nose,
which stood him in good stead in battle.
and OF which there are yet remains.
q -
But while long scientific names may
shed certain glamour over these rep
tiles OF past ages. their chief interest
will still remain In their shapes. And In
this respect they are very similar. On
mentioning this fact TO the curator Of the
fossil reptile department. the answer was
Eyes. similar in large details, but differ
ent in small ones This simply meant
that 10 really understand the true diff
ference one had TO be learned in that
particular Lranch of knowledge. How
ever. both have long rear legs, while for
fore legs they are possessed OF only ap-
parently fragile members. reaching about
half the length of the others. The re-
suit is that these reptiles are supposed
TO have walked ordinarily on their hind
legs only while the smaller members
thus enabling their owners to get close
TO their food. But mounted as one spec
men is to show how the reptile probably
looked when walking. the whole has a
some what remarkable resemblance TO q
Seasaw
The ceratosaurus, .horned-nose
lizard" was flesh eater. He lived on
other creatures. and IL is even thought
possible that he would attack his rela-
tive. the camptosaurus, almost his own
size. From head TO tail. the eeratosaurus
in the possession OF the Museum meas
ures about seventeen feet, while from
the top of the head 10 the ground.
when in an ordinary position. II stands
seven feet. This, however. was not the
height To which the reptile could obtain.
as when he reared he could stand prob
ably ten feet Added to these facts, that
his weight was probably in the neighbor-
hood OF 2.0ID pounds. and creature
capable OF worsting man today. Is the
result. And the ceratosaurus was a
nghter. Aside from having horn which
brought him his title, his teeth were large
and sharp, and IL is believed he was an
exceedingly fast runner.
In speaking of the possible diet and
fighting ability of this reptile in life
Charles W. Gilmore, curator OF the fossil
reptile department in the Museum said
that the ceratosaurus was one of the