The Life of a Fossil Hunter

by Charles H. Sternberg

I cannot hope in this short space to have given more than a passing glance at the life of a fossil hunter. It has been one of joy to me; I should not like to have missed making the discoveries I have made, and I would willingly undergo the same hardships to accomplish the same results. And if my story does anything to interest people in fossils, I shall feel that I have not written in vain.

When I requested Professor William K. Gregory of Columbia University to be the final reader of the manuscript of this book, “The Life of a Fossil Hunter,” shall I ever forget his kind words? “I hope you will not feel that you are under any personal obligations whatever, because this slight service is simply laid upon me by the necessities of the case, i. e., by the fact that your whole life and work have placed all paleontologists under lasting obligations to you.” Surely “my cup runneth over; I have a goodly heritage.” Greater than their obligations to me, are mine to the men of science who have described, published, but, above all, have prepared and exhibited the noble monuments of creative genius which I have been so fortunate as to discover and make known to the civilized world. My own body will crumble in dust, my soul return to God who gave it, but the works of His hands, those animals of other days, will give joy and pleasure “to generations yet unborn.”

FINIS

INDEX

• Adocus, [77]
• Amphibian, Long-horned, [253]
• Anderson, A. E., [58]
• Anseres, Fossil, [160]
• Aphelops megalodus, [123]
• Archælurus debilis, [189]
• Aspidophyllum trilobatum, [19]
• Bad Lands, Expedition to, [61]–98
• Bailey, Dr., [260]
• Baird, Letter from Spencer F., [20]
• Basin, John Day, [173], [190]
• Batrachians, Fossil, [161]
• Beds, Laramie, [272]
• Benton, Fort, [79], [97], [98]
• Betulites westii, [30]
• Bison, Giant Fossil, [267], [268]
• Blackbird, Fossil, [161]
• Bourne, W. O., [58]
• Broili, Dr. F., [112], [234], [253], [254], [255], [258]
• Bromfield, Corporal, [226], [227]
• Brontosaurus, [78]
• Brouse, A. W., [101], [121], [141]
• Button, Mr. Lee, [157], [168], [169]
• Camel, Fossil, [187], [188], [242]
• Carboniferous, Upper, [135]
• Cardicephalus sternbergi, [255]
• Chalk, Expedition to Kansas, [32]–60
  • Further Work in Kansas, [99]–119
• Clidastes, [53], [135], [280]
  • tortor, [44]
  • velox, [51], [53]
  • westi, [135]
• College, Vassar, [53]
• Condon, Prof., [160], [161]
• Coots, Fossil, [161]
• Cope, Prof. E. D., Characteristics of, [45], [69], [74], [75], [83], [84], [89], [90], [91], [92], [93], [95], [239], [242], [243]
  • Expedition to Bad Lands with, [61]–89
  • Horned Dinosaurs Discovered by, [87]
  • Letter from, [33], [142]
  • News of Death of, [241]
  • Speech Given by, [45]
  • Memory and Imagination of, [75], [76]
  • Wit of, [98], [99]
• Cormorants, Fossil, [160]
• Coulée, Grand, [175], [204]
• County, Converse, [270]
  • Gove, [34], [118]
  • Logan, [35], [38], [50], [54], [57], [60]
• Coyote, [211]
• Creek, Beaver, [138]
  • Bushy, [234]
  • Butte, [50]
  • Chapman, [101]
  • Coffee, [245], [246], [252]
  • Cottonwood, [273]
  • Deer, [126]
  • Dog, [68], [77], [79], [81], [88]
  • Gray, [250], [253]
  • Hackberry 34, [35], [38], [107], [135], [266]
  • Hay, [60]
  • Indian, [241]
  • Pine, [170]
  • Pony, [261]
  • Prairie Dog, [126], [127]
  • Sappa, [120], [121], [140]
• Cretaceous, Life of the, [54]
• Crinoid, Stemless, [266]
• Davis, Leander, [196], [198], [202], [203]
• Day, Bill, [173], [178]
• Dayville, [189]
• Desert, Expedition to the Oregon, [144]–169
• Diceratherium nanum, [189]
• Dimetredon, [217], [256]
• Dinosaur, [77], [273]
  • Duck-billed, [275]
  • Horned, [87], [88]
  • Three-horned, [270]
• Diplocaulus, [227], [257]
  • copei, [254], [255]
  • magnicornis, [240], [253], [255]
• Dissorophus, [242]
• Dolichorhynchus osborni, [111]
• Duncan, Mr., [154], [156], [158]
• Eastman, Dr., [114]
• Elephant, Columbian, [268]
• Elephas primigenius, [160]
• Elotherium humerosum, [186], [187]
• Enhydrocyon stenocephalus, [189]
• Eryops, [217], [227], [256]
  • megacephalus, [251]
• Ficus, [23]
• Flamingo, Fossil, [161]
• Flora, Tertiary, [172]
• Fossils, Formation of, [258]–260
  • Method of Excavating, [41], [42], [88], [109], [110], [130]
• Galyean, Frank, [230], [231], [232]
• Gar-pike, [253]
• Gorge, Picture, [173]
• Grebes, Fossil, [160]
• Gregory, Prof. William K., [280]
• Group, Fort Pierre, [70], [135]
  • Loup Fork, [120]
  • Niobrara, [50], [122]
• Grouse, Fossil, [161]
• Gulls, Fossil, [160]
• Hamman, George, [207], [209]
• Haploscapha grandis, [108]
• Hatcher, Prof. J. B., [70], [123], [133], [270]
• Hayden, Dr., [78], [205]
• Henry, Major, [229]
• Hermann, Adam, [58], [278]
• Heron, Fossil, [161]
• Hesperornis regalis, [265], [266]
• Hill, Mr. Russell, [101], [141]
• Hill, Smoky, [109], [113]
• Holland, Dr. W. J., [115]
• Hollick, Dr. A., [21], [22], [26]
• Horse, Three-toed, [126], [188]
• Howard, General, [191], [196], [197]
• Hoxie, [267]
• Huff, Joe, [170], [177]
• Ichthyornis, [269]
• Inoceramus, [135]
• Isaac, J. C., [47], [48], [61], [65], [74], [79], [80], [81], [83], [86], [93], [94], [98]
• Island, Cow, [79], [87], [89], [91], [98]
  • Long, [132], [134]
• Klamath, Fort, [142], [146]
• Knight, Charles R., [279], [280]
• Knowlton, Dr. F. H., [24]
• Labidosaurus, [256], [257]
  • hamatus, [253]
• Lacoe, R. D., [24]
• Lake, Fossil, [158]
  • Silver, [148], [149], [154]
• Leaves, Formation of Fossil, [28], [29]
  • Preparation of Fossil, [25], [26]
• Lesquereux, Dr., [19], [21], [22], [23], [24]
• Lizard, Fin-backed, [227], [234]
  • Flying, [266]
• Loosely, George, [148], [152], [158]
• Loup Fork Beds, Discovery of the, [120]–143
• Lucas, Dr. F. A., [265]
• Lynx, Canadian, [211]
• Lysorophus tricarinatus, [258]
• Macbride, Letter from Prof. T. K., [27]
• Mammoth, Columbian, [260]
  • Teeth of Columbian, [134]
  • Skull of Hairy, [160]
• Marsh, Prof. O. C., [32], [77], [87], [129], [133], [173]
• Marsupials, [272]
• Martin, H. T., [112]
• Mascall, Mr., [178], [179], [190], [191], [193]
• Mastodon, [123], [125], [127]
  • Jaws of, [124], [125]
• Matthew, W. D., [279]
• Menette, Major J. F., [222]
• Merriam, J. C., [165]
• Miocene, Upper, [131]
• Monoclonius, [87]
  • crassus, [87]
  • sphenocerus, [87]
• Mosasaur, [27], [50], [204]
• Mountains, Bear Paw, [97]
  • Judith River, [85]
• Mudge, Prof. B. F., [32]
• Museum, American, [57], [78], [187], [188], [189], [234], [243], [250], [266], [278], [279]
  • British, [51], [125], [267], [271], [273]
  • Cambridge, [123]
  • Carnegie, [53], [54], [59], [115], [117], [133]
  • French, [266]
  • Harvard, [137]
  • Munich, [112], [234], [244], [262]
  • National, [134], [265]
  • Princeton, [133]
  • Roemer, [51]
  • Senckenberg, [118]
  • Yale, [133]
• Myledaphus bipartitus, [78]
• Mylodon, [161]
• Naosaurus, [227], [234], [235], [236]
• Ness City, [268]
• Newberry, Dr. J. S., [21]
• Oreodon, [177], [189]
• Osborn, Prof. H. F., [51], [57], [112], [115], [243], [257], [271], [278], [279], [280]
• Osborn and Lambe, [77], [78]
• Otocœlus, [242]
• Overton, Mr., [128], [129]
• Owl, Fossil, Great Horned, [161]
• Paratylopus sternbergi, [188]
• Pariotichus, [257]
• Peccary, Fossil, [189]
• Permian, Expeditions in the Texas, [230]–243
• Phœnicopterus copei, [161]
• Platecarpus, [46], [51], [52], [53]
  • coryphæus, [50], [204]
• Pogonodon platycopis, [202]
• Portheus molossus, [54], [57], [58]
  • Collecting a Specimen of, [55], [56], [57]
  • Description of, [59], [60]
• Prentice, Sidney, [53], [279]
• Protophyllum sternbergi, [18]
• Protostega gigas, [114], [115], [116], [117]
• Pteranodon, [266]
• Pythonomorpha, [44]
• Quarry, The Sternberg, [125], [126], [131]
  • Theory of Presence of Fossil Animals in, [131], [132]
• Rattlesnake, [210]
• Raven, Fossil, [161]
• Rhinoceros, [123], [133], [134]
  • Bones of, [127], [128], [138]
  • Skull of, [189]
• River, Expedition to the John Day, [170]–204
  • Loup Fork, [120]
  • Soloman, [34], [121]
  • Sprague, [149], [151]
• Rocks, Monument, [36], [46], [116]
• Russ, Will, [129]
• Salamander, Great, [217], [227], [251]
  • Fossil, [240]
• Sandstone, Concretions of, [15]
• Sassafras dissectum, [19]
• Sassafras, Fossil Leaves of, [18]
• Seymour, [249]
• Shark, Cretaceous, [113]
• Shufeldt, Dr., [160], [161], [162]
• Sill, Fort, [220], [226]
• Sloth, Fossil, [161]
• Snow, Prof., [104]
• Springer, Mr. Frank, [117], [118]
• Sternberg, Charles H., Adventure on a Cliff, [182]–184
  • Adventure with a Norther, [214]
  • Buffalo Hunting, [6]–9
  • Dangerous Ride, [96]
  • Discovery of the Texas Permian, [230]–233
  • Experience with a Cyclone, [121]
  • Finding a Fossil Lake, [158]
  • Narrow Escape from Death, [72], [73]
  • Setting a Dislocation, [140], [141]
  • Wild Ride through Bad Lands, [89]–92
  • Writing “Pliocene Man,” 159
• Sternberg, Charles M., [263]
• Sternberg, George, [109]–111, [118], [171], [246], [252], [255], [256], [262], [273], [274]
• Sternberg, Levi, [272], [274]
• Swan, Fossil, [160]
• Teleoceras fossiger, [134]
• Testudo orthopygia, [122], [138], [269]
• Texas, Expedition to Permian of, [205]–229
  • In the Red Beds of, [244]–264
• Tiger, Saber-toothed, [137], [202]
• Tortoise, Sea, [114]
• Trachodon, [77]
  • mirabilis, [275]–277
• Triceratops, [270], [273]
• Trilophodon campester, [123], [124]
• Trionyx, [77]
• Turtle, Land, [121]
  • Sea, [77]
• Tylosaurus, [51]
  • Ram-nosed, [49]
• Tyrannosaurus rex, [277]
• Uintacrinus, [118], [119]
  • socialis, [117], [266]
• University, California, [165]
  • Harvard, [205]
  • Iowa State, [50]
  • Kansas State, [51], [111], [135], [112]
  • Oregon State, [160]
  • Yale, [77]
• Valley, Sican, [151], [153]
• Varanosaurus acutirostris, [254]
• Village, Deserted Indian, [163]–165
• Von Zittel, Dr. Carl, [113], [244]
  • Letter from, [247], [248]
• Walla Walla, Fort, [170]
• Water, Alkali, [41]
  • Desert, [211]–213
• West, Judge E. P., [30], [135]
• Whelan, Pat, [214]
• Whitaker, Governor, [160], [162]
• Wichita, Big, [209], [212], [227], [230]
• Williston, Dr. S. W., [49], [50], [53], [111], [112], [113], [144]
• Woodward, Dr. A. Smith, [266], [273]
• Wortman, Dr. J. L., [134], [171], [188], [279]
• Wright, Mr., [140], [218]
• Zeuglodon, [57]

E. RAY LANKESTER’S EXTINCT ANIMALS

By Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S., Keeper of the Natural History Department of the British Museum, Author of “The Advancement of Science” and “A Treatise of Zoölogy.” With numerous illustrations. $1.75 net; by mail, $1.93.

An interesting book by a high authority, based on a course of his successful, popular lectures. His narrative is well unified and developed, and his style so simple that children as well as older folk may enjoy the work. The illustrations are unusually effective.

N. Y. Sun:—A charming book ... showing that the greatest learning can be combined with the utmost simplicity of expression ... a book of intense interest ... the pictures are skilfully arranged to elucidate the text.

N. Y. Globe:—A great deal more lively than it sounds.... Huxley himself could not have talked more instructively in such simple language.