and therefore more ferocious than the iguanodon, and more ready to
attack. Its head was like that of a crocodile, its body massive like
that of an elephant, yet larger; its tail was small, and it stood high
on its legs, so that it could run with great speed. It was not covered
with bony armor, but had probably a hide thick enough to serve the
purpose of shell or bone. Its teeth were constructed so as to cut with
their edges, and the movement of the jaws produced the combined effect
of knife and saw, while their inward curve rendered impossible the
escape of prey that had once been caught. It probably frequented
the river banks, where it fed upon reptiles of smaller size which
inhabited the same places.

"More," continued the doctor, "is too general in his descriptions. He
has not a scientific mind, and he gives but few data; yet I can bring
before myself very easily all the scenes which he describes,
particularly that one in which the megalosaurus approaches, and he
rushes to mount the dinoris so as to escape. I see that river, with
its trees and shrubs, all unknown now except in museums--the
vegetation of the Coal Period--the lepidodendron, the lepidostrobus,
the pecopteris, the neuropteris, the lonchopteris, the odontopteris,
the sphenopteris, the cyclopteris, the sigellaria veniformis, the
sphenophyllium, the calamites--"

Melick started to his feet.

"There, there!" he cried, "hold hard, doctor. Talking of calamities,
what greater calamity can there be than such a torrent of unknown
words? Talk English, doctor, and we shall be able to appreciate you;
but to make your jokes, your conundrums, and your brilliant witticisms
in a foreign language isn't fair to us, and does no credit either to
your head or your heart."

The doctor elevated his eyebrows, and took no notice of Melick's
ill-timed levity.

"All these stories of strange animals," said Oxenden, "may be very
interesting, doctor, but I must say that I am far more struck by
the account of the people themselves. I wonder whether they are an
aboriginal race, or descendants of the same stock from which we came?"

"I should say," remarked the doctor, confidently, "that they are,
beyond a doubt, an aboriginal and autochthonous race."

"I differ from you altogether," said Oxenden, calmly.

"Oh," said the doctor, "there can be no doubt about it. Their
complexion, small stature, and peculiar eyes--their love of darkness,
their singular characteristics, both phys