Chapter II: Preface: To Second Edition

The appearance of a second edition affords the author a pleasant opportunity of thanking the reading public, and the Press, for the kind way in which his endeavour to popularise the results of modern Palæontology has been received. There seem to be fashions in all things--even in sciences; and perhaps the wonderful advances we have witnessed of late years in the physical sciences on the one hand, and in biological sciences on the other, may have tended to throw Palæontology somewhat into the shade. Let us hope that it will not remain there long.

A large number of illustrations have been added for the present edition, besides additional matter here and there in the text. Three of the plates (viz. Plates II. X. XV.) have been redrawn. Plate II. shows the Ichthyosaurus as interpreted by the latest discovery from Würtemberg. Plate X. gives a somewhat different interpretation of the Stegosaurus, suggested by some remarks of Mr. Lydekker.

A slight change will be noticed in Plate XV. (Brontops). Plate XVII. is a great improvement on the old drawing (Fig. 28, old edition) of the Megatherium skeleton. Plate XXIV., besides containing a valuable portrait of the late Sir Richard Owen, gives another drawing of the Dinornis skeleton.

_April, 1893._

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Preface by Dr. Henry Woodward v
Author's Preface ix
Preface to Second Edition xv
Introduction 1
CHAPTER I. How Extinct Monsters are preserved 9
CHAPTER II. Sea-scorpions 24
CHAPTER III. The Great Fish-lizards 34
CHAPTER IV. The Great Sea-lizards and their Allies 52
CHAPTER V. The Dragons of Old Time--Dinosaurs 61
CHAPTER VI. The Dragons of Old Time--Dinosaurs 75
CHAPTER VII. The Dragons of Old Time--Dinosaurs 98
CHAPTER VIII. Flying Dragons 121
CHAPTER IX. Sea-serpents 133
CHAPTER X. Some American Monsters 148
CHAPTER XI. Some Indian Monsters 162
CHAPTER XII. Giant Sloths and Armadillos 177
CHAPTER XIII. The Mammoth 192
CHAPTER XIV. The Mastodon and the Woolly Rhinoceros 217
CHAPTER XV. Giant Birds 227