Gilpin observer., 1916-01-27
WAS NOT A LAP PET
Scientist Constructs a Model of
the Stegosaurus.
interesting Creature Weighed About
$4,000 Pounds and Roamed the
Earth and Scared Folks Some
Millions of Years Ago.

ACiuSo WIG anu Ciilulc cI tnClI
cave, barred the door" and sharpened
his stone AK to resist the attack of that
pretty creature weighing some $4,000
pounds, the stegosaurus, or plated liz
ard, which, luckily. exists now only in
fragments in deep-buried fossils.
The Smithsonian institution, which
takes the deepest delight in fossils,
has been studying the stegosaurus and
restoring it to its pristine state of
several hundred millions of years ago,
so that one returning home with an
imagination too vivid may see it walk
ing down Pennsylvania avenue.
Investigations conducted by the
section CT fossil reptiles CT the Ma
tional museum concerning the giant
fossil reptile known as the stegosau-'
rus, Or plated lizard, reveal many in
teresting facts hitherto unestablished
definitely" according to a statement
issued by the Smithsonian institution.
1T is now known that two rows of
great dermal armor plates along the
monsters back alterpated like cross
cut saw teeth and were not paired;
that the largest one was above the
base of the tail and not over the hips,
as previously supposed; that there
were only is of these plates; that
there were but four sharp spines near
the end of it's tail, and many other
important details relating to the gem
eral appearance of this great reptile
which lived about eight million years
ago and weighec nearly fifteen thou
sand pounds"
II recent publication by DIR.
Charles w Gilmore, assistant curator,
it is stated that there were reproduced
ten pictures of restoratiors of the
stegosaurus as depicted by various au-
thorities between the years 1891 and
1919. They show a variety and are
II interest as exhibiting the diverse
opinions held regarding its probable
appearance in the flesh, and especially
as tc the arrangement Of the skin or
lernal armor which forms such
conspicuous feature of the external an
atonay of this curious reptile. In view
OF this, Mr.. Gilmore prepared a model
CT the stegosaurus one-twelfth of the
linear dimensions of the type-speci-
men now on exhibition in the museum
and issued another pamphlet describ-
ing it.
| In general appearance this rather
] early reptile was monster standing
nearly nine feet high at his hips, and
about fifteen feet long. He probably
was covered with a tough, hornlike
hide, REINFORCED on the top and sides
| of its head and neck with bony knobs
which were in effect not unlike armor
Lyv
tending from its small, lizardlike head
along its back and well toward its
long, tapering tail were great sharp
| edged plates arranged alternately In
| double row. Its legs and feet were
! similar to those of the alligators and
crocodilcs of our age, but the forelegs
were much smaller and weaker than
the hind ones. due to it's 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 1t was SO well protect
| ed by armor.
| Mr.. Gilmore's ideas concerning this
| animals appearance, especially in re-
gard to the alternate arrangement of
| it's back plates. have been found to
agree with those expressed by Dr.
F. A. Lucas OF the American Museum
Of Natural history. Each arrived at
his conclusions independently OF the
other.
The new model shows the head of
the stegosaurus lowered considerably;
"a II he were in the act of feeding on
the ground, where he is known to have
secured his food, being plant eater,
to Judge from his teeth and incapable
of reaching lofty and elevated herb
age. In this position he presents GU
rious appearance, not unlike rough
section from circular saw, for his
back from head to tail curves down.
ward in each direction from his hips.
At this time the character of the
skin covering of this animal is wholly
conjectural, but from what is known
of the skin of some of the members
of the horned and ducl-billed dino
saurs 1t is not unreasonable to believe
that the stegosaurus hide was SCALE
like, with numerous bony knobs or
buttons scattered over the sides of its
body. However, in the light of recent
discoveries, we may yet hope for def
mite knowledge as to its true nature.
There is every reason to believe
that the stegosaurus is descended
from bipedal ancestry. Increasing
bulk and development of the armor
caused them to lose quickness OF
movement and they became sluggish.
slow-moving creatures Of low mental
ity, sufficient only. perhaps. to direct
the mere mechanical functions of life.
|