Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-11-30
FINDS SKULL OF BIGGEST
MAMMAL

Inc skull OF the biggest mammal
on record, the egg OF a prehistoric
bird who must have had wing spread
of twenty feet, and information which
will revolutionize the geological con-
ception OF Northern Asia, il not OF the
world, are some of the finds brought
back by Roy Chapman Andrews, lead
er of the Third Asiatic Expedition"
which returned TO Picking, China, after
five months in the wilds OF Mongolia.
This exploration, undertaken for the
Museum Of Natural History, bids fair
TO be one of the greatest scientific
achievements in modern history. The
missing link" has not been discover
ed, but information is on hand which
may finally solve the mystery of mans
origin.
A fossil field, perhaps the larges,
in the world, has been located, rich
in specimens which have no. been
touched. The expedition made only
the hastiest kind Of an investigation,
contenting itself with mapping the
places, later to be worked, and next
spring, with fresh start, it is ex-
pected that some truly remarkable dis
coveries will be forthcoming.
Remains Of several animals were
unearthed which belong to species
hitherto unknown.
Professor Walter Granger, chief of
the Paleonthology Department, made
the real find of the trip in the complete
skull of baluchitherium, a prehis-
toric mammal about twice the size of
an elephant. Ten years ago a frag-
ment of the foot was discovered by an
English explorer, but the nature of the
rest of the animal was pure conjec-
ture. Besides the skull, there were
other parts of the skeleton. The ami
NAL itself was at least twenty-five feet
long and fifteen feet high. 1t was the
"whale" Of the land and must have
been the "king of beasts" of It's day,
putting the dinosaurs to flight by It's
greater determination and far great
er intelligence. Its day Of supremacy
was about two million years ago in
the miocene period.
incidentally, several dinosaurs were
found, including two complete skele-
tons. This is remarkable since UP to
this time no trace of the giant reptile
has ever been found north of the Hi
malayaS. Many other interesting
traces of remains had to be left for
lack Of time, as the object of the first
visit was only that Of reconnaissance.
During the next few years the areas
mapped will be worked thoroughly and
should be productive of positive data
about that mysterious ancestor of ours,
the "missing link"
The expedition covered nearly four
thousand linear miles of practically
unknown country, and the entire trip
was made by motor car, the equip-
ment including three touring cars and
two one-ton trucks. To the astonisl:-
ment of all concerned, especially the
insurance companies, who would not
insure under any conditions, every car
was brought back under its own power
and is ready to start out again next
spring. The achievement is attributed
to the skill of S. Bayard Colgate, who
was in charge of transportation. Be-
fore coming to China he prepared for
the work by studying in American auto
factories and by making careful list
of extra parts which should be carried
along. In many of the places visited
the inhabitants had never seen a white
man, not to speak Of an automobile.
and fled away from their villages in
terror