Evening star., 1915-11-20
DESCRIBES THE REPTILE
KNOWN STEGOSAURUS
U. S. National Museum Publication
Reveals Facts Hitherto Unes-
tablished Definitely.
Monster Nearly Nine Feet High and
Fifteen Feet Long Lived 8,OOO,-
600 Years Ago.

Investigations conducted. Dy the sec
tion of fossil reptiles of the United
States National Museum concerning
the giant fossil reptile known as the
stegosaurus, or plated lizard, reveai
MANY interesting facts hitherto unes-
tabished definitely. 1t is now known
that the two rows of great dermal ar
NOR plates along the monsters BACK
alternated like cross-cut saw teeth
and were not paired: that the largest
one was above lie base of the tan ana
not over the hips as previously sup
posed; that there were only elsneeeIi
of these plates; that there were pus ~
four sharp spines near the end OF i.s
tail; and many other important details
relating to the general appearance OF
this great reptile who lived about S.-
0OO. 900 years ago and weighed nearly
$4,000 pounds.
Ten Pictures Reproduced.
In recent publication written oy
Charles W. Gilmore, assistant curator
Of fossil reptiles in the United states
National Museum, there were repro
duced ten pictures of restoratlons OIL
the stesosaurus as depicted by various
authorities between the years OF 1881
and 1912. They show a variety ot ~ ~.
exhibiting the diverse opinions heio
regarding its probable appearance IN
the flesh, and especially as to the ar,
rangement of the skin or derHlal
armor, which forms such consplCuooss os
feature Of the external anatomy OF
this curious, extinct reptile.
But since none of these restoratlons
portrayed fully the ideas set Iorth III
the bulletin cited above, MT. GllmoEe
has recently prepared motst asa mnear
dimensions of the type specimen now
on exhibition in the museum. ana is
sued another pamphlet describing the
same.
In general appearances This this near1y ear1y
nine feet high at his hips. and measur-
ing about fifteen feet long He was
probably covered with a tougn morn,
like hide, reinforced on the top ana
sides Of it's head and neck with bony
knobs which were in effect not unlike
armer plate, or, at least, rivet heads.
Extending from it's small lizard-like
head along it's back and well toward its
long tapering tail were great sharp
edged plates arranged alternately in a
double row. Its legs and feet were SIM
liar to those of the alligators and
crocodiIes of our age, but the fore legs
were much smaller and weaker tnan
the hind ones, due to its heritage from
some ancestor who walked on its hind
legs. It seems to have possessed very
little brain, and it may have been for
this reason that it was SO well protect
ed by armor.
Two Statements Agree.
Mr.. (iilmore's ideas concerning this
animals appearance. especially In re-
gard to the alternate arrangement Of
its back plates, have been found to
agree with those expressed by DR.. F. A.
Lucas of the American Museum of
Natural History; both of whom arrived
at their conclusions independently.
The new model shows the head of the
he were in the act of feeding on the
ground, where he is known to have Sc
cured his food, being plant eater to
judge from his teeth. ard incapable Of
this position he presents a curious ap-
pearance. not unlike rough section
from circular saw, for his back from
head to tail curves downward In each
direction from his hips.
AT this time the character of the skin
covering of this animal is wholly con-
jectural. but, from what is known of
the skin of some of the members of
the horned and duck-billed dinosaurs
it is not unreasonable to believe that
the stegosaurus' hide was scale-like,
with numerous bony knobs or buttons
scattered over the sides of it's body.
However. in the light of recent dis
coveries, we may yet hope for definite
as to it's true nat3fe.
Slow Locomotion Indicated.
The head and neck, the massive limbs
and, in fact. the whole appearance of
these animals indicate slow locomotion
on four feet. The feet themselves are
large. as though intended to support
the creatures weight on yielding soil.
and their structure implies that they
were land-haunting, doubtless of low,
swampy regions rather than the up
lands. but their structure also suggests
that they were adapted from a group
highly specialized for locomotior on
land There is every reason to believe
that the stegosaurs are descended from
bipedal ancestry.
Increasing bulk and development of
the armor caused them to lose quick
ness of movement. and they became
sluggish. slow-moving creatures, of low
mentality. only sufficient. perhaps, to
direct the mere mechanical functions
of life.