A PREHISTORIC MONSTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2328, 13 September 1921, Page 4

A PREHISTORIC MONSTER.

SMALL BRAIN IN HUGE BODY,

The best minds of the American Museum of Natural History agree that the gorgosaurus, a gigantic beast which lived way back ill Paleozoic times, ran when in a hurry on its hind legs. Nobody ever saw a gorgosaurus, but scientists searching his ancient habitats have found enlightening footprints an"d other evidence that he once lived in what is now the Canadian province of Alberta. They show that this carnivorous dinosaur used all fours in ordinary travelling, but being; spurred to hijrh speed, the big fellow got up on his hind legs. Accordingly, a gorgosaurus skeleton recently acquired by the museum from the Red Deer River beds

of Alberta has just been mounted in his running pose.

In. explaining the probable habits of the gorgosaurus, Dr W. D. Matthew, curator of'the museum’s department of vertebrate palaeontology, picture the prehistoric monster in chase of a couple of unwary duck-billed dinosaurs that have carelessly wandered from the banks of rivers and lagoons which served them as refuge from... landlubbers like the gorgosaurus.

The gorgosaurus was long on speed but. short on brains, Dr Matthew said. In fact, he was a real lowbrow among the ancient animals. Intellectually he would have been a good companion for crocodiles, which are put at the foot of the class in most zoos.

So, Dr. Matthew said, this enoi--mous but rather stupid beast would rely on his speed to catch the frightened duck-billed dinosaurs. Standing upon his rear legs, and using his massive tail to balance the body, he would pursue his prey. Catching them, lie would attack ferociously with claw and tooth. The duckbilled dinosaurs had no means of defence caught, and they were promptly consigned to a place on the gorgosaurus menu.