FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 15: Trachodont teeth never drop out, they are completely
consumed. Only in the Iguanodonts and Ceratopsia are they shed.--B.
Brown.]
CHAPTER VII.
THE BEAKED DINOSAURS (Continued).
B. THE DUCK BILLED DINOSAURS,--TRACHODON, SAUROLOPHUS, ETC.
_Sub-Order Ornithopoda; Family Trachodontidae._
These animals of the Upper Cretaceous are probably descended from the
Iguanodonts of an older period. But the long ages that intervened,
some millions of years, have brought about various changes in the
race, not so much in general proportions as in altering the form and
relations of various bones of skull and skeleton and perfecting their
adaptation to a somewhat different habit of life, so that they must be
regarded as descendants perhaps, but certainly rather distant
relatives, of the older group.
We know more about the Trachodonts than any other dinosaurs. For not
only are the skeletons more frequently found articulated, but parts of
the skin are not uncommonly preserved with them, and in one specimen
at least, so much of the skin is preserved that it may fairly be
called a "dinosaur mummy." This specimen of _Trachodon_ is in the
American Museum, and beside it are two fine mounted skeletons of the
largest size. There is also on exhibition a panel mount of a nearly
related genus, _Saurolophus_ the skeleton lying as it was found in the
rock, and a fine skeleton of a third genus _Corythosaurus_ with the
skin partly preserved on both sides of the crushed and flattened body
stands beside it.
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