Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 34.djvu/485

Rh anatomy of which is almost as well known as that of a dog or a cat. This animal, the iguanodon, in the way it is mounted, reaches a height of about fourteen feet, and a length of nearly thirty feet. It also stands on the hind-legs, and is supported by the strong tail, which constitutes about a third of the whole length. The neck is erect, and the head horizontal, as if the animal were gazing forward. The short anterior limbs, somewhat bent, are hanging down. The hind-foot is composed of three strong toes armed with claws. The fore-feet have a long and strong spine where we have the thumb. The name of the animal has been chosen on account of its teeth, which resemble remarkably those of the Brazilian lizard, iguana, and indicate that the iguanodon was no carnivore, but a herbivorous

animal. It is thought that this animal lived in swamps or on the banks of rivers. It is further believed that it walked on its hind-legs, and that it treated its assailants in the way of a bear, by embracing them with its short and strong fore-legs, and piercing them by the dagger-like spines of the fore-feet.