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Introduction: Extinct

For important works of reference on the subject of palæontology, the reader may consult "The Age of Mammals in Europe, Asia and North America," by Henry Fairfield Osborn, "A History of Land Mammals in the Western Hemisphere," by W. B. Scott, and "Dragons of the Air," by H. C. Seeley. Of a popular nature is a new edition of "Extinct Monsters and Creatures of Other Days," by H. N. Hutchinson, "Extinct Animals," by E. Ray Lankester, and "Mighty Animals," by Miss Jennie Irene Mix, intended especially for the young. Interesting books on the collecting of fossils are "The Life of a Fossil Hunter," by C. H. Sternberg, and "Hunting Extinct Animals in the Patagonian Pampas," by F. B.

Loomis. No account is taken here of the numerous technical papers, dealing with new species, or increased knowledge of the structure, habits and relationships of long known species that appear in scientific journals or are issued by our larger museums.

The story of Primitive Man is a subject by itself and is not touched upon in this book. It is related at length in "Men of the Old Stone Age," by Henry Fairfield Osborn and briefly sketched by the same master hand in the "Hall of the Age of Man," a Leaflet intended for use with the collections displayed in the Museum. INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY TWENTY YEARS LATER Twenty years have passed since this book was written, and while in that time we have added much to our knowledge of Animals of the Past and added many new and fine examples of them to our museums, the general facts in regard to them remain unchanged. As the stereotyped plates have become worn, and as there seems still a demand for information about "prehistoric" creatures, the time seems opportune to bring some of the chapters down to date, and, especially, to add some new illustrations based on the better and more abundant material now available. Naturally the majority of these cuts have been taken from the rich collections of the American Museum of Natural History which contains more complete specimens of fossil vertebrates than does any other museum.

Unfortunately the writer is twenty years older than he was and the ideas do not come so quickly, nor the pen record them so readily as of yore. Worst of all, his brain has joined with the labor unions in demanding an eight hour day and refuses to work nights, so when he has most leisure he is least able to avail himself of it. Hence this revision comes at a later date than he had hoped for.

New York, July 1, 1922.

ANIMALS OF THE PAST