};�
$$�
Ķ¿?
%，;§§
Ë
%%
$$$$
ș ș*********** << ***-•·
ſ ≡ ≈ ≠ ± ----ż-żrae-~--~--~~~--~~--~-----،• « »：
！!！！！！ ！！-، ، ،2， … ：~） • •·- -*-º- . ：:
- -° *************
-ſae¿S-（E）-， -:-， -, : ----،·،-~--~………
-& ！ ******** • ** -：|- ·،-：~ ----- « - ».m：• "- ，·- -， ， ， ， • • • • • • • • • • •
،|- …！！!！！！！！！！！！！！！！！·：：--·， ， ， … • • • • • • •
¿№t.： --}，§;&-;ſ;！！！º ，· -
¿∞∞∞§§§§§§§§-

::::::::::::::::::：::::::::
№sſae
‘IWJ
‘esnoel KS
IT
12 NWſ
soug puoſ Á80
18
19 pu
19|uduec
\unouou!
8051
ſ=ſ.
±
«»
§§
<ģ};
* g

ROYAL MUSEUM
· OF BELGIUM
À
PRICE : TwENTY-FIvE CENTIMEs
XELLES — PoLLEUNIS ET CEUTERICK, IMPRIMEURs
| • | 57 , RUE DES URSULINES, 57
| 1 8 9 s























ROYAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
O F E3E L G | U M
| | | |
BERNISSART AND THE IGUAN0D0NS
PRICE : TVAVENTY-FIVE CENTIMIES
BRUXELLES. — POLLEUNIS ET CEUTERICK, IMPRIMEURS
57, RUE DES URSULINES, 57
1 8 9 8

MuSºuſtºs
QE
y 5'5"
, ſº A
A 73
~~
Żºceezzo % *3&eº,
4 --2 - 6 7
4, 2 2/622 – 7:52%
This account explains the discoveries and observations made in the
strata of the lguanodons of Bernissart, with their signification.
It is almost the textual reproduction of the explanations I added,
in 1895, to the collections of this celebrated strata in the galleries
of the Museum, carrying out a system which will be successively
applied to each collection of the institution.
This statement finishes with a list of the publications dealing
with the geology, the fauna and the flora of Bernissart.
É. DUPONT,
DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM.
February 1, 1897.

INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Geology is a historic science.
It rebuilds the past of the earth. It starts from the same point as
the history of man.
First it establishes the succession of events through time, which is
called chronology. •º-
When rocks or fossils are discovered, geology, before finding out
their nature, begins with their affinity and its meaning, in order to
determine to what part of the Earth's past they belong.
Thus, during our century, the study of the superposition of strata
and the comparison of their fossils have enabled science to cons-
truct chronological tables of the rocks.
N.
Some, general, are applicable to all the rocks of the Globe, and
can be called the Scale of time.
Others, more detailed, are peculiar to some given region, these -
are local tables. *
When the chronology of a rock is thus determined, one studies
the events and the state of things which the strata and their contents
demonstrate, and by comparison with the geological phenomena
observed now-a-days, one is able to build up the past history of the
earth in a certain region at a special epoch.
This is what has been done for the rocks of Belgium, specially for
the strata of the Iguanodons at Bernissart. The object of the following
chronological table is the arrangement of the geological knowledge
collected in our country.
Chronology, however, is not complete, unless it adds to the
knowledge of the order of the succession of periods, the knowledge
of their duration. }
Duration of time is only known in the history of man, and then
only among those nations possessing the art of writing. Man alone,
— 6 —
when he reached the degree of civilization which brought about the
discovery of that art, has been able to draw up Annals and preserve
by tradition, for years and centuries, a part of his past history.
The phenomena of nature do not leave on the surface of the
Globe the elements which allow the length of geological periods to
be rebuilt with scientific precision.
It is only by analogy with the march of actual phenomena that
one has a glimpse of immense periods of time, beyond all propor-
tion with time known in human history, but one cannot fix these
geological ages, or even estimate them.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
of THE
Roo Hs o F B E L G Iu M
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
OF THE BELGIAN ROCKS
* N E E L G | U M.
General chronological table ELG ILºt-
APP CHRONOLOGICAL - » ºr ºf
* PPLICABLE TO THE WHOLE WORLD * Cº.A:\_1 E& ARRANGEMENT cº, FOSSILS PRINCIPAL TRAiNS
OR of THE NATURE OF THE ROCKS OF $ Q? of the evolution
ſºCA, A LE OF TIME B ELGIAN SO !l. STER ATA ROCKS Fog N p 1 N ou R Roc Hºs OF THE BELGIAN SOIL
- marine
| RhºGºRN' " | Nº POSITtº . . . . . . . . . Marine sand, alluvium, peat . . • g - | º wild oxen, stags, beaver, etc., lower animals. } Present régime.
terrestri -
The whole country became
enoue ouareswarax . . . tº p • Alluvium . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... º.” “ ” “” “ tº:
tion of masan.
; - - - Sand . . . . . . . . . * * * * Terrestrial mammalia, lower unama!3.
Pliocene caldisien . . . Sand . . . . . . . . . . . g is is s * Fish, lower animals . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diesti Sand marine cetacea with nins, aeals, nah or Antwerp. lower
188:100. & gº & te & & 4 { animals * * * * * * * * * * * * *
- Bolderien - - - Sand . * * * e = ar alsº of Boom, dolphing, tortoises and fish of Antworp,
Fºllocene | w GW ºf 8 ſºls - - - - - - - - : * ~ *
. . . . . . ; missing: ~
oligocene Rupelien . . . . Sand, clay. . . . . . . . s & a marine d Sireniens, tortoises, fish of Boom, lower animals
g Tongrien - - - Sand, clay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fish, lower animals.
G|ROUP { Asschien . . ... Sand, clay. . . . . . . . - e & - , Lower animals * = e.
TERTIA Rºº Upper Wemmelion - - Sand . . . . . . . . . * * iº & e . . . . . Tortoises. fish, lower animals, Successive invasion of middle
Lêdien - - - - Saad . . . . . . . . . tº º º ºs º a 9 . . . . Fish, lower animals. -
L k Sand, cal ÇTº E A*- CA. marine and lower Belgium by
- flekëIllén . e. , calcareous deposits . . . * * * * * * * * . . . . Fish, lower animals. . . . . . . - --
Middle Bruxellien . . Sand. calcareous deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . º Birds, tortoises, fish, etc., lower animals marine sediments
- t - .”
Bocene Paniselien . . . Clay, sand. . . . . . . . * * * * * * * * * Fish, lower animals. * *
| Ypresien . . . Clay, sand. . . . . . . . * g g º º is a º * Tortoises, fish, lower animals. * = * * *
- * marine and l Mammalia, birds, tortoises, crocodiles of Erquelinnes,
H 6P Landenien * * * Sand. clay. * * * * g º º * * * . in g *:::::...} fish, lower animals as a g º ºs is is tº a tº s
- Hearsien - * h Sand. guard * * * * * _* tº a - - - - - • * * *:::::: Fish, lower animals, vegetables gº tº * tº * ºf g *:
| Montien. * - - Calcareous deposiu • * * * * * * * * * * * * * e = w is Fish, lower animals . . . . . . . . • e - -
* --- **** *T* ------º-º: ---- i. -- &- * - … • - -
**º-º-º: ** —I +4
Maurichlin. . suave ºrdeauty. . . . . . . . . . . . . ) mains | *::::: * **, *.*.*. * *-
3. * * * * Tortoises, ine Sauria, fish of cli , lower animals, Middl d 1 - -
"ºº" Calcareous deposits (chalk). . . * * * g e s tº Inarine jāj. • * s & * *. * = w & “ ; º: * Belgium
Sénonien! iros Herve Clay, mark. . . . . . . . *g & 4 º ºs * Fish, lower animals. .
* allºu, San" . . . . {e - HorizöNºrāz. *::::::: Lower animals, vegetables. Commencement of invasion of
Çretaceous Turonien . . . Marle and sand . . . . . 9 * . * * * * * * & e ſº Fish, lower animals . . . . the sea, first at Hainaut,
Cénomamien . . Calcareous gravel and marl . . tº as tº & tº marine Fish, lower animals . then at Herve.
Albien . . . . . Sandstone (grindstone) . . . . s & ſº & & * Fish, lower animals. ; * * * * * * * *
• GCROUP . . . . . . . } missing fluvial Iguanodons, crocodiles, tortoises,
CºcoWDARY Wealdien. Sand, clay fiish and vegetables of Bernis-| The whole of
~ - ~~. ** * tº dº º tº restrial Sart, vegetables of Bracquegnies) . Belgium conti-
U . . . . . . . and of Baume . . . . . . . . . . \ mental.
pper . . ) migBing . . . . . . . . . . . . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * t
Jurassic e e g º & ºt
Middle Bajocion. . . Calcareous deposits . . . . . dº ſº Lower animals
Lower Liasien . . . . } sº * * & 4 . . . . Marine reptiles, fish, lower animals . The S.-E. point of the Country
- . . . In&rinó - only then under the sea.
keuprien . . . Clay, marl, calcareous deposits . . . . . Lower animals * * * * * *
Trissale Poecilien , , , Copglomerates, clayey sandstone. Lower animals . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tú is in g of the
erºlan • 2 e a s tº * w A role a nea. Middle
* migging . . . . . e * and lower Belgium remain
Upper . . . . fluvi emerged
Cºrboniferous | Middle . . . . Sandstone, schist, coal . . . st's Ara la º Fish, inse&s, lower animals, vegetables.
lower . . . . Schist, clayey or ailicious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lower animals e
Wiséen . . . Calcareous deposits. Fish, lower animals. The valleys of Condroz,
|Dinantlen Waulsortion . . Calcaroous deposits . Lower animals * l'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse
Tournaigien . . Calcareous deposits . & ſº tº e º sº. Fish, lower animals. * and as Arenae, nº
U F * Sandstone, clayey ** tº LOIº (NG Fish, lower animals, v *- by Inarine sediments º by
G|ROUP pper 8000|ºlòl. . . | calcareous deposits . . . . * * * * * * * , veg - carboniferous, fluvial and
Frasnien . . Calcareous deposits, schist. º * . . . Fish, lower animals º
IPRILY ARY Devonian ( Middle Givetion. Calcareous deposits, sandstone, schist e marine Lower animals . . torrestrial deposits.
º Couvinion . Calcareous deposits, Schist. Lower animals
- i8n . Sandstone, schist, conglomerates . º Lower animals
lower | Coblenzien tº 8 -
Gédinnión . Conglomerates, sandstone, Schist. * Lower animals
AND General rising of the country,
* * q : * & formation of large hollows
º is tº * * * in Condroz, l'Entre-Sambre-
et-Meuse and the Ardennes.
marine *
* $ g e º ſº s e . . . Lo al * Bormauon of the general base
fºllutarian sº a # * * * * Sandstone, achist, porphyry JºCPLO & O |. :* W{}r tºurnals of the country which is
sº - In ºrné - accessible to us, volcanic
(Cambrian is & , Sandstone, schist, porphyry . . * * * * * e | and volcanic | Lower animals . . . . . . . . * eruptions

t
Jew ºw * *
sºyasnºstavº Disposite . . .
. . . . . . . miasing,
R. DUPONT. May, 1890

— 14 —
GEOLOGICAL MAP
OF
IEEl EDT G-I ITUC JIN/ I
— 12 —
THE CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF BELGIUM
The rock, containing the Iguanodons of Bernissart, dates from
the commencement of the Cretaceous Epoch, which is itself the last
part of the secondary geological period.
The cretaceous deposits only levelled the length of upper Belgium.
They rested immediately on the primary rocks, without interpo-
sition of secondary rocks anterior to the cretaceous deposits,
because between the end of the Primary Period when the Ardennes
were raised and the end of the epoch of the Iguanodons, the entire
surface of Belgium was completely submerged.
Our lower cretaceous strata, little developed, are principally clay
and sand; the upper, more extended, are chiefly of chalk and a
soft limestone called tufa.
All are arranged horizontally, and consequently have not under-
gone, like our primary rocks, the changes of mountain rocks.
The strata of the Epoch of the Iguanodons alone show a geological
formation on a submerged soil. Those which follow them are of
marine origin as well from their evenness which denotes ancient
shores, as from the bottom of the artesian wells hollowed out in the
Quaternary and tertiary soils which bounded them on the north.
This last circumstance shows it was towards the end of the Epoch
of the Iguanodons of Bernissart that lower and middle Belgium, for
a long time continental, sank beneath the sea.
s - -** ſº º ...”
- *. s”. ...” ********** * * -
****** º ** - - *
057/AWDE - **** º *- * ---
*As fºo #" WVº - *....... cº - …”
S“Wgo's º erent/º/, “... . **.3
Wewport - º Merre - º
- ſ - ...”
- Awwa. - 6A/WD Lokerºn 7FMoWDF -
% º 7%u 5ut *4. º º º - 4A1/M& --
D/M/MDº R* sº | N º T \ D Dest /
* - º L \'ſ ºf F -
º 7/57 Deyn; * ... A AASSE17 -
- - - Zº l * 3:/servº
rº Asºº’e”,” woºf | Zºº'40/4/ S.
%/yº TOI/777/ TºS Wºr/emog: - 5°7′-ona
º *. - . º Grønn ont - - -" º - - 7% - º -
**, - *... FEMA/X Zessines - 3. º, -
-- -L º
£º / ſºft -- --
A. º Ch --- º, - W/ º
Kºhrevres. 23:... [...ſº - ---
"is º. i. 3% Žº iſ
rtº
f
-
ſhoº/ize.”
.**
-
- -
- -
-
BELGIQUE
Kilometres
0. 10 20 S0. *0 50
L I















80m
322.
356,
Geological section
Part of the coal-field of Bermissart where the Iguanodons evere discovered
SOUTH_EAST.
N
NORTH_WEST Vegetable Soil.
- * 0meſars
Sº C
s: - Jew level
S$ - 22zra
SS - Š-s
Š
s Şāśs ~
s
N N
N
N
| \ was so m a.º. `s go,
-140a.
NSN
§
&uaneºns ºff ana' ºs
º
of he Weaſaean P. *
§
º
N
º N
§§ §
§
§ º
§§ º 322
§ §§ § §: of £S NºnVNºvý º Jº.
The geological age of the rock of the Iguanodons has been thus
discovered : -
A* This rock, covering carboniferous rock and being itself
covered by the cretaceous deposits of the Albien Epoch, could
belong to any of the intermediate rocks in the Scale of time, i, e,
to the deposits of the Permian Period, the Triassie Period, the
Jurassie Period and the commencement of the Cretaceous Period.
2" The method of superposition only giving such vague infor-
mation, one was obliged to resort, in order to state precisely, to
stratigraphical paleontology, that is, to the determination of the










— 14 —
place of the fossils of this rock in the scale of beings of all ages. ,
Fish and plants, associated with the Iguanodons were the elements
used for this work. They showed that these deposits came at the
commencement of the Cretaceous Period, at the epoch, which,
being represented at Bernissart by terrestrial and fluvial strata,
takes the name of the Wealden Epoch, and, represented by marine
strata, takes that of the Néocomien Epoch (1). g
The rock of the Iguanodons of Bernissart can thus be traced back
to the Wealden Epoch.
The fluvial origin of the same deposits has been thus decided :
1st Formed of a grey slimy clay, whose beds finely stratified, con-
tain small veins broken by sand and small fragments of rock, they
have the structure of fluvial deposits;
2nd Their fossils, animal or vegetable, are all terrestrial or
fluvial;
5* They were placed in beds in tiers separated by barren clay,
of various thicknesses, as in deposits formed by repeated action of
a stream of water.
The éboulis are angular pieces of slate and of sand bedded in
rock.
The existence of a valley has been determined :
A* By the arrangement of deposits peculiar to Iguanodons in a
deep large crevice in the middle of coherent strata of carboniferous
rock;
2” By the proof of the existence of a river at the bottom of this cre-
vice in the Wealden Epoch.
The marine origin of the deposits covering the clay of the Igua-
nodons has been determined by the presence of fossils exclusively
marine, and their geological age by stratigraphical Paleontology,
through which it is known that the most ancient of these marine depo-
sits called Grindstone of Bracquegnies, belongs to the Albien Epoch.
(1) Etymology : Wealden from Weald, district of Kent and Sussex where the
first remains of Iguanodons were discovered in 1822. Néocomien from Neocomum or
Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where the classic type of marine deposits of the same epoch
is found.
— 15 —
The evidence of a sinking of the region during the Albien Epoch
is shown :
1st By the direct covering of the sediment from the valley of Ber-
missart by the marine deposits of this epoch;
2” Because, at the Wealden epoch, on the contrary, the depth of
this valley had been inhabited by terrestrial and fluvial animals, and
consequently was above the sea level.
The extent of this depression during the last part of the Cre-
taceous Period can be calculated as at least 1300 ft. considering :
M*That the valley of Bernissart must extend beyond its commence-
ment ;
2* That the bottom of this valley is situated more than 1137 ft.
6 in. above the marine levels of this point;
5* That in the neighbourhood, levels of the same marine origin
are higher than here.
— 16 —
ANIMALS AND WEGETABLES
FOUND IN THE WEALDEN STRATA OF BERNISSART
The strata of Bernissart show the reunion of the following animals
and vegetables :
REPTILES
Iguanodon bernissartensis, BouleNGER, Dinosauria from the
remains of which about 25 individuals have been collected; Gonio-
pholis simus, Owen, crocodile already known in the Wealden rock
of England : two skeletons;
Bernissartia Fagesii, Dollo, Crocodile of a new kind: one skeleton
and parts of two other specimens.
Chitracephalus Dumonii, Dollo, Tortoise of a new kind, one
specimen:
Peltochelys Duchastellii, Dollo, Tortoise of a new kind, five
specimens;
Thus Dinosauria abound, and rare representatives of two kinds
of Crocodiles, and two kinds of Tortoises.
BATRACHIA
Hylaeobatrachus Croyii, Dollo, Batrachian urodèle of a new kind :
one specimen.
IFISH
Numerous specimens of fish belonging principally to the groups.
Lepidotus and Amias. The chief species determined in 1878 in
— 17 —
order to fix the age of the layer which they caused to be recognized
as Wealden are :
Lepidotus Mantelli, AGASSIz.
A- Fittoni, ID.
**- minor, ID.
INSECTS
Fragment of a wing of a Névroptère Sialide, Hylaeoneura Lignei,
LAMEERE and SEVERIN;
Larvae of aquatic insects, probably belonging to this species.
PLANTS
Numerous remains of plants, nearly all belonging to ferns. The
principal kinds equally determined in 1878 in order to know the
age of the layer are;
Lonchopteris Mantelli, BRONGNIART. This is the predominant kind.
Pecopteris polymorpha, DUNKER.
sº Conybeari, ID.
Alethopteris elegans, GoFPPERT.
Sphenopteris Roemeri, DUNKER.
— , Goepperti, ID.
No mollusc has been (found. It seems probable that the shell has
been dissolved by the waters of infiltration.
— 18 —
PLACE WHERE THE IGUANADONS LIVED
In 1877, M. Gustave Fagès, director of the coal-fields of Bernissart
in Hainaut discovered the Iguanodons in a gallery which was being
investigated, which, 1046 ft. under the earth and 975 ft. below
the sea level, crossed a large crevice filled principally with clay
and interrupted the continuity of the carboniferous strata.
The opening of this gallery was soon followed by that of another
1457 ft. deep and 140 ft. lower down, the extent of the excavations
and evidences collected previously at the same place at a lesser
depth showed that Iguanodons had lived there, at the commencement
of the Cretaceous Period, in the bottom of a valley existing in the
carboniferous rock.
812 ft. deep, the cretaceous valley of Bernissart had on one
side a vertical wall, and on the other a sloping one, so that, very
narrow at the bottom, it was, at the height of the discovered
gallery, already about 168 ft. wide and continued to widen. It
was bordered with éboulis on each side. Its commencement was not
far away; it extended from north to south where it soon joined
another valley more important coming from the east which was
known under the name of the cretaceous valley of Hainaut. It was
thus a secondary valley.
A river flowed there, because in the excavations between the two
ranges of Éboulis have been found thick fluvial deposits, and in
these, numerous remains of fresh water fish, as well as skeletons of
Crocodiles whose régime is both fluvial and terrestrial.
The banks of the river were marshy, as is proved by the presence
of tortoises and plants, which are both species found in swamps.
It could not be otherwise, considering that the fine clayey nature
of the alluvium produced a soil permeable only in a slight degree.
— 19 —
The soil should easily form a marsh.
1* Because the river flowed very slowly, as the nature of its
alluvial deposits show;
2” Because, subject to periodical rising, it often overſlowed its
banks, shown by the disposition of bones and plants in beds in
tiers separated by alluvial deposits without bones:
3” Because during its inundations it still flowed slowly, although
at the place of the discovered gallery where the valley was 168 ft.
wide, the course of the river was winding.
This winding is shown in its turn, by the fact that if the bones
of each Iguanodon have been disturbed on the left bank, they have
preserved all their natural connection on the right. From which one
can conclude, that, following the hydrographic rules of winding, in
the time at least of the inundations, a feeble current must have
existed on the left bank, but that the waters slowly overflowed the
others without producing obvious changes.
From these data it follows, first, that the slope of the bank and
consequently the movement of the water were slight, circum-
stances which with a soil difficult to permeate are the condi-
tions of the formation of marshes ; – and second, that the
Iguanodons and the terrestrial kinds of beings represent animals
who died in the intervals of the inundations, and were succes-
sively hidden under the alluvium deposited by these risings.
The Iguanodons of Bernissart lived then in a deeply hidden
valley, whose bottom was extremely damp, like a marsh.
One is thus brought to look on these as animals of the
marshes, a conclusion confirmed by numerous traces of the prints
of Iguanodons in the same freshwater rocks in England and
Hanover, it being only possible to make such impression on a
muddy soil.
Remains of Iguanodons have been met with towards the bottom
of the Wealden valley of Bernissart on strata 110 ft. 6 in. thick,
one could not tell if it were not still thicker. Thus could be
deduced the length of time the valley was inhabited by these
Dinosauria.
But the deposits of the cretaceous river, which are themselves at
this place, as the soundings show, of a thickness of at least
975 ft. are so great as to fill the whole valley and even to
— 20 —
go beyond it. From this, a geological period, still longer, is pre-
sented to us, for the fluvial phenomena which have formed them.
However, from the Albien Epoch which follows closely the
Wealden in the scale of time, the territory of Bernissart was
invaded by the Sea. So that the authenticated powerful accumula-
tions could only belong to a very slight part of the Cretaceous
Period.
Length of specimen 51 ft. 9 in.
Height 14ft. 8 in.
Organisation and customs of the Iguanodons.
The Iguanodons are Reptiles belonging to that order of Dinosauria
which has been completely extinct since the end of the Cretaceous
Period and comprised the largest terrestrial animals that have ever
existed (1).
The length of the body, in the specimen found at Bernissart is as
much as 52 ft. 6 in. Raised in the attitude of walking, it is 16 ft. 5 in.
At the extremity of each jaw is a horny beak. At the sides are
92 indented teeth all in use, and constantly replaced when worn.
(1) Iguanodon means & animal with teeth of Iguanao. A lizard of tropical America,
with which it was first compared.
Dinosaurian means & gigantic saurian o.


— 22 —
85 vertebrae, 10 at the neck, nearly all furnished with a pair of small
ribs, 24 at the trunk, 54 at the tail.
Arms much shorter than legs. The hands have five ſingers, the
thumb being finished by a spur. In the pelvis and hind limbs of
these Reptiles there was a great resemblance to birds. A strong
protuberance at the phalanges for the attachment of the muscles
was joined to the tail and pelvis. The foot had four toes of which three
were used for walking.
The body was probably covered with very small scales of which
specimens have been found.
The Iguanodons appear to have been essentially animals of the
marshes, as is seen from the places where their remains or traces
have been found.
They were herbivorous, proved by the wear of their teeth and the
presence of débris of plants in that which is supposed to be their
dejections.
That they were bipeds is seen by the difference in the formation
of the feet and the hands, and the fact that the traces of their steps
discovered in neighbouring countries are all those of three toes.
They had a very flexible neck, whilst the ligaments of the upper
apophyses of the vertebrae of the trunk and the tail were always
osseous, which caused a certain rigidity of these parts.
The animal walked on the inner part of the foot, with a lateral
movement of the body and without trailing its tail.
The tail was not used as by the Kangaroo for support, because
the lower apophyses of the caudal vertebrae are pointed instead of
being flat. It had above all a rôle of counterpoise and ( capable of
moving at the same time as the chest was a formidable weapon of
defence.
The Iguanodons lived in troops, according to the number of spe-
cimens seen in the small explored part of the valley of Bernissart,
and the reunion of several traces of individuals of different sizes in
small spaces in neighbouring countries.
*
Length 29 ft. 5 in.
Position of Iguanodon when discovered.
The bones of many of the Iguanodons of Bernissart had preserved
their natural connection and their skeletons lay in this position.
The present specimen often called « The recumbent Iguanodon ),
shows exactly how it lay in the alluvial Wealden deposits at a depth
of 1046 ft. 6 in. It was extracted in 17 blocks, which were covered
with plaster and numbered, afterwards the plan was made of their
disposition.
This Iguanodon 29 fl. 5 in. long, rested on lignite, probable
remains of herbaceous plants covering the banks of the rivers.
The limbs, being distended, not rigid, showed a quiet tranquil
death.
In contrast with the maintenance in place of the limbs and the
whole spinal column, the displacing of the shoulder bone, the ribs
and the pelvis, show that these latter which enclosed the visceral
cavity, had fallen in after the decomposition of the viscera and
before being covered by the alluvium of the Wealden rivers.
The preservation of the general anatomical connections, shows in
its turn, that in the place where this specimen lay, the inundations













of the river covered the banks sufficiently slowly not to have disturb-
ed these connections.
This circumstance agrees with the strictly slimy nature of the
alluvium covering the bones.
The parts with fractures visible in several places in the skeleton,
are the result of posterior movements in the mass of strata.
Length 2 ft. 8 in.
Skull of Iguanodon.
The tip of the jaw was toothless. That of the lower jaw was provi-
ded with a particular bone called ( 0s prédentaire in the form of a

— 26 —
horse-shoe with a sharp upper edge, probably covered at the begin-
ning with a horny substance. ~,
The jaws are, on the contrary, furnished at the sides with nume-
rous teeth, some in use, others destined to replace those worn.
These teeth, shaped like a spatula, have indented edges.
The upper teeth appear to be closely crowded in a row, and deeply
implanted in sockets.
The lower teeth have also sockets, but these have no inner side,
being during the animal's lifetime covered with flesh. The result of
this is, that beside the teeth in use equally closely croweded in a row,
those destined to replace the first, arranged in several rows placed at
the back one above another, are clearly visible.
The teeth in use are worn by mastication. During this operation
as the upper teeth projected beyond the lower, a slanting surface
was formed for grinding, directed inside and at the top by the upper
teeth, and outside and below by the lower.
– 27 —
THE IGUANODONS
Method by which their mode of walking has been decided.
Length 1 ft. 1/2 in.
1st
The impression of their steps has served to demonstrate by the
superposition of the bones of the feet of the Iguanodons of Bernis-
sart, that the large traces of three toes in the Wealden strata of
Hanover and Engand are those of Iguanodons.
This impression identifies itself in fact by the projecting of the
toes, their form, number, relative length and the space between 0.
with the foot of the Iguanodons.
It was found at Bad Rehburg near Hanover.

THE IGUANODONS
wº-
Method by which their mode of walking has been decided.
- f : **'.
-**
... ." NYºº ' ….:
...Nº \º, - yì ºr - " - " ... Nº ". nºt
• º. 2: ... ... Y#!
* 5: i- §§ lººk ºv §: . §º,
*iºc & ºś
§§§ºf
tº - §. º §§§º º º ğ.
Sº...º.
º º
G" . "
~
º
W
§
§§
". º".
ſ
[.
|
tº: º º
Length 1 ft. 7 in.
2nd *-
Counter-impression taken near Hastings (Sussex) of the trace of a
foot-print of an Iguanodon, showing the conformation of the foot
covered with flesh.
It proves that the animal did not only walk on the first phalanges,
but on all at once, and on the lower extremity of the metatarsus
which formed the heel.



























— 29 —
THE IGUANODONS
Method by which their mode of walking has been decided.
Length 9 1/2 inches.
3ed
A series of steps showing the traces of Iguanodons and discoveries
in the Wealden strata near Hastings.
These tracks are impressions of various dimensions. They are
therefore due to individuals of different sizes and show :
1* That the Iguanodon was a biped, these impressions all being
those of three toes like the hind limbs of this species, whilst the
front have five fingers of which there are no impressions in these
tracks;
2* That it walked with its feet turned inwards ; …
3* That it did not drag its tail, as there is no impression of it
neither in the present tracks, nor in the other known tracks repre-
sented by similar impressions:
4* That the earth on which the Iguanodon walked was muddy,
because tracks of this kind are only made and preserved in muddy
soil.

— 50 —
It is necessary to remark that this collection of traces in a space
of less than 812 ft. 6 in. square appears to indicate that the Igua-
nodons lived in troops ; this is confirmed by the astonishing accu-
mulation of their skeletons at the bottom of the valley of Bermissart
which they inhabited.
And lastly, the impressions at Hastings vary from 8 to 20 inches.
Among the specimens of Bernissart recently unearthed from their
resting place, the length of the foot, from the lower extremity of
the metatarsus to the end of the medium toes varies from 12 A/2 to
18 1/2 inches, corresponding to a relative height in the attitude of
walking of from 14 ft. 5 in. to 16 ſt. 3 in. But in the bones found
in the gallery of researches before the presence of the Iguanodons
was known, the hoofed phalanx of the outer toe of a left foot had
been found belonging to a very much smaller specimen. According
to proportional calculations, this foot could only be about 9 inches,
about the length of the smallest impression at Hastings, and the
height of the individual when walking could not have been more
than 7 ft. 4 in. ^,
It is interesting to notice, that neither among the bones, nor
among the traces of steps have been yet observed signs of Iguano-
dons of a size that could denote more youthful specimens.
THE [GUANOI)0NS
Method by which their mode of walking has been decided.
Length 5 fl. 5 in -
Ath.
Thigh bone of Iguanodon, showing in the middle of its inner face
the projecting point called the third trochanter.
The extraordinary development of this appendage in the organs
of locomotion shows the important part it must have played in the
walk of the animal.



THE |GUANODONS
Method by which their mode of walking has been decided.
-- ºr
-
5th
Back part of a duck showing the insertion of the muscles which
attach themselves to a point (third trochanter) on the inner face of
the thigh, one of which, the caudo-femoral muscle, inserts itself
into the lower apophyses of the tail, in such a manner as to produce
in walking the lateral movements of the tail.
In the Iguanodon, the large development of the third trochanter
corresponds to the great length of the tail. This makes one believe
in the existence of an enormous caudo-femoral muscle and corre-
latively in the lateral movements of the tail when walking.

— 35 —
THE CROCODILES
The home of the Iguanodons has furnished six specimens of Cro-
codiles mingled with Tortoises, Iguanodons, Salamander, fish, insects
and plants.
These Crocodiles represent, among the group of short-muzzle
Crocodiles, two distinct zoological families.
Essentially carnivorous, the Crocodiles fed on fish and terrestrial
animals.
Not less essentially amphibious, they show by their presence in
the Wealden valley of Bernissart, at the same time the existence of a
river in confirmation of the presence of fresh-water fish and of
fluvial alluvium, as well as that of banks, as the Iguanodons, Tortoises
and Ferns on their side announce.
==º
<=º
Length 6 ft. 6 in.
GONIOPHOLIS SIMUS
(Goniopholis from the Greek : Crocodile with Angular plates.
Simus from the Latin : new camus).
An almost entire skeleton, as shown above, has been recon-
structed. Another less complete, whose bones had been somewhat
disturbed, has been preserved in its recumbent position.
About 6 ft. 6 inc. long, with a short head with 25 teeth on the
two sides of each jaw, several of which project, forming weapons
of defence, this Crocodile has a dorsal armour composed of two
rows of scales, like the greater number of Crocodiles (group Mesa-
suchia) which lived about these epochs. These scales covered with
dimples with a spur at one of the corners, are jointed like the tiles
of a roof, which allows a certain mobility of the body. They stretch
to the end of the tail. The ventral armour is double; a dermatic
breastplate under the shoulders and the abdomen, both formed of
numerous scales in rows united by sutures.
This Crocodile had been previously found in the Wealden depo-
sits of England.

Length About 2 ft.
BERNISSARTIA FAGESII
This small reconstructed Crocodile and two other incomplete
specimens of similar size, kept in the position in which they were
found, represent a new family in the group of short-muzzle Croco-
diles.
It differs in size from the Goniopholis, its co-habitant of the
Wealden valley of Bernissart, and none the less so in its dorsal
armour of four rows of articulated scales, reduced to two towards
the neck; also in its unique ventral armour of eight rows of scales
equally articulated.
It has 20 teeth each side of each jaw, and several of the upper
jaw being longer than the others, form weapons of defence.
This Crocodile, being nameless, received that of Bernissartia
Fagesii, in order to recall the celebrated strata which supplied it
and to render homage to the director of the coal-fields of Bernis-
sart, to whom science owes one of its most memorable paleontolo-
gical discoveries. -

TORTOISES
Six specimens of Tortoises have been found with the Iguanodons.
One is regarded as a new type of Thalassemydes, a group which
lived and disappeared in the middle of the secondary period and
which has received the name of Chitracephalus Dumonii.
The four others, called Peltochelys Duchastellii are regarded as
belonging to the same group, in spite of the noticeable difference of
size, and as an equally new type of Testudinides, a family still
having representatives.
According to their organization, these two kinds of tortoises had
the common attributes of being amphibious and inhabiting marshy
places. Their presence in the valley of Bernissart corroborates the
inference drawn from other elements, the existence of a river in this
valley, and the marshy nature of its banks.
– 37 –
ºr .
Length of carapace about 6 1/2 inches.
CHITRACEPHALUS DUMONII
This Tortoise, amphibious and living in marshes could draw its
head and neck under its carapace.
Only one specimen has been discovered.
The name of Chitracephalus means Tortoise whose head resembles
that of the Tortue Chitra which lives in India.
The species has been dedicated to M. Dumon, president of the
Administrative Council of the coal-field of Bernissart, in memory of
the ſaid given by him to the Museum in the extraction of the Igua-
nodons.

– 58 –
Length about 5 inches.
PELTOCHELYS DUCHASTELLI
The home of the Iguanodons has provided an adult specimen,
represented above, and four of smaller size supposed to be young
OneS.
This Tortoise, amphibious and living in marshes like its co-habi-
tant the Chitracephalus, folded its neck and head on the side where
the edge of the carapace protected these organs, instead of drawing
them under the carapace itself.
Its name of Peltochelys recalls its aſlinity with the Tortoise Pelto-
cephalus which lives in meridional America.
This species has been dedicated to MM. les Comtes du Chastel de
la Howarderie, administrators of the coal-field of Bernissart, in
memory of aid given to the Museum for the excavation of the Igua-
nodons.

WIEw WENTRAL. Counter impression.
Length 5 1/2 inches.
HYLAEOBATRACHUS CROYII
This Batracian, with a long thin body, had a rather long tail,
which causes it to be placed among the Batracian urodèles or Batra-
cians with a tail and not among the Batracian amoures or Frop, in
the large groups still living of this zoological clan.
It possessed branchy osseous arcs, differing from the representa-
tives of the Tertiary and actual Salamanders.
It had four short limbs, which class it among the Protées. But
it stands alone among these last because while its front limbs have
four toes, its hind ones have five.
It is the most ancient representative known of the Batracian
urodèles.


— 40 —
The Urodèles live at the present time in fresh-water or in damp
places. Their fossilized remains have only been found in fresh-
water strata, as is the case with this one.
The name of Hylaeobatrachus comes from Batracian Wealden or
Batracian of the forests.
The species has been dedicated to M. le duc de Croy, adminis-
trator of the coal field of Bernissart, in memory of aid given to the
Museum for the excavation of the Iguanodons.
— 44 —
IFISH
Width 8 inches.
Lepidotus Mantelli.
The remains of fish collected at Bernissart in the home of the
Iguanodons amount to more than two thousand specimens of various
sizes, some more than 24 in. long, others scarcely 1 in.
They are classed principally among the groups Lepidotus and
Amia. -
The Lepidotus and other fish characterized by their quadran-
gular brilliant scales, are specially like the present Lepidosteus.
This group was very numerous in Europe during the secondary
period. But from this time it has only existed in rivers of North
America, where its last representatives still live. *
The present Amias are like the Lepidosteus, the last remains of
groups formerly very numerous, and they only live now in the
streams of North and Central America.

— 42 —
The Lépidotus and the Amias of Bernissart were also fresh-water
fish; beside the fact that their affinity of organization with the
Lépidosteus and the Amias still exists, which leads one to conclude
that their manner of living was similar, they inhabited a valley of
fluvial sediment where only terrestrial or amphibious animals and
terrestrial vegetables are found.
Up to the present these fish have only been studied with a view to
ascertain the geological age of the strata of Bernissart, and the place
which they inhabited.
Cº.
º
*
– 43 –
INSECTS
Life size.
Impression. Counter-impression.
Life size.
Larvae.
-
A fragment of the wing of an insect with its counter-impression
and several pieces of larvae were found in the Wealden clay of
Bernissart and leave no doubt as to their nature.
The fragment of wing has been definitely recognized as belonging
to a Névroptère, that is, to a carnivorous insect living on the banks
of water, having four membraneous wings, transparent and provided
with a network of nerves.



— 44 —
The Névroptères form several groups, one has been able to ama-
lyse the character of the nervation in the piece of wing from Ber-
missart so as to connect it under the name of Hylaeoneura Ligne;
with the family of Sialides, Névroptères with complete metamor-
phoses like our Phryganes.
The Sialides have existed for a long time. They have been found
in Triassic deposits. They are numerous to-day in kinds and species:
as perfect insects they fly about the plants which grow round
stagnant or slowly flowing water, and their existence is very short.
The larvae of Bernissart should be considered as aquatic, because
their form is like that of the larvae of the Sialides which are aquatic,
and one can conclude that they are those of the Hylaeneura Lignei
which one thus possesses in two stages of development.
These insects cause one to believe in the same manner as the
other animals and plants of Bernissart in the existence of an essen-
tially damp place, such as a marsh would be crossed by a slow
stream of water.
The word Hylaeoneura means Névroptère of the forests or wealden.
The species has been dedicated to M. le prince de Ligne, adminis-
trator of the coal-fields of Bernissart in memory of aid given to the
Museum for the excavation of the Iguanodons.
— 45 —
PLANTS
f 7/7 2 × . .
% º
º % /š Zºº
&W, f % % % 'W ºf $# º gº/ % º
º /7%// / º º,
% £4. // z % % fº
§4% / /// Z / Z:///
\% * /
% gº º
º, º % Wºź 4.
%%
Bº # %
§º
£º
4/2 life size. Life size.
Lonchopteris Mantelli. Pecopteris polymorpha.
The débris of plants collected in large numbers at Bernissart, in
the midst of terrestrial animals, amphibious or aquatic, belong nearly
all to Ferns,
None of these were very large, and they are all characteristic of
the Wealden Epoch, which in accord with the Fish, they served to
determine in 1878 as being that of the strata of Bernissart.
& The place where they lived was a marsh, the bottom of which
was covered by a turfy mud or slime, in which the débris of the
ferns, the friends of humidity, which grew on the borders of this
marsh, buried themselves. This is to what all actual analogy points.
This decision of Gaston de Saporta to whom these vegetables were
submitted, agrees with all the facts furnished by the physical geo-
graphy, the sediment, and the fauna, which cause this wealden strata













— 46 —
to be regarded as having been situated in a valley whose bottom
was a swamp crossed by a stream of water.
There is no less reason to believe that the heights crowning the
valley were covered with forests of Coniferae, because at Bernissart
in the fluvial wealden alluvium of a parallel neighbouring valley,
numerous trunks of trees, leaves and fruit have been discovered,
which had once floated in water.
SUMMARY
&==º
At the commencement of the Cretaceous Period, at the Wealden
Epoch, Belgium was submerged; there were plateaux covered with
forests of Coniferae, furrowed by a complete network of valleys.
Among these was found at the far end of Hainaut, a lateral valley,
short, deep and enclosed.
It was the valley of Bernissart.
Between two walls 812 ft. high, bordered with éboulis, stretched
a marsh covered with vegetation consisting principally of lower
ferns.
A stream of water, flowing slowly, full of fish, subject to continual
inundations crossed it, and deposited there a fine clayey mud diffi-
cult to permeate.
Among this, numerous generations of animals of all kinds deve-
loped themselves.
From their strange stature and colossal bulk, as well as from their
number, the Iguanodons were the most remarkable inhabitants, and
gave to the scene a character that can never again be found in
nature.
But, on the other hand, the aspect of this picture, as for example
the assemblage of creatures which formed the cortège of these
enormous Dinosauria, could still find an analogy in many parts of
the globe in or near the tropical regions.
It is the fauna and flora of a marsh and a river in a narrow deep
valley.
At each of its innumerableinundations, the river, raising its banks,
covered with sediment the remains of animals and plants so well,
that in the course of the commencement only of the cretaceous
— 48 —
period, the deep valley was completely filled by these alluvial accu-
mulations alone.
Then the region sank under the sea for a long period, and receiv-
ed fresh masses of strata in order to emerge again and become once
more continental. -
Geology alone makes us understand these phenomena of sediment
and oscillations in all their magnitude.
At length in our days, the industry of man, by a vigilant investi-
gation of coal strata, has exhumed these débris of a prodigious past
from beneath 1457 ft. 6 inches of sediment, where they appeared as
if they would rest for ever buried!
—eve- -—
"SNOOIONVM). ĐI GIHAL „10 01/WIJL GIHLNiºluvssiſwaa„IO ÅTTITWA GIH）.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1878. P.-J. Van Beneden. — Annonce de la découverte des
Iguanodons. ( Discovery of gigantic fossilized Reptiles in the
coal-field of Bernissart near Peruwelz. ) (Bull. Acad roy. de
Belg., 2° sér., t. XLV, p. 578.)
1878. E. Dupont. — Description du gisement; détermination
de l’age des couches; reconstitution du milieu. ( The dis-
covery of bones of Iguanodons, fish and vegetables in the trench
Ste-Barbe in the coal-field of Bernissart. ) (Ibid., t. XLVI,
p. 387.)
1892. Id. — Id. ( The strata of the Iguanodons of Bernissart. )
(Bull. Soc. belge de Géol., t. WI, p. 86.)
1882. L. Dollo. — Les Iguanodons; détermination des espèces.
First account of the Dinosauria of Bernissart. ) (Bull. Musée
roy. d’hist. nat. de Belg., t. I, p. 161.)
1882. Id. — Id. ; le Sternum. ( Second account of the Dinosauria
of Bernissart. (Ibid., p. 205.)
1883. Id. — Id.; Station droite de l’Iguanodon. (, Remarks as to
the presence of the (third trochanter of the Dinosauria among
Birds and the use of the same. ) (Ibid., t. II, p. 13.)
1883. Id. — Id. ; Id. ( Third account of the Dinosauria of Bernis-
sart. ) (Ibid., p. 85.)
1854. S. H. Beckles. – Id. ; Id. ( On the Ornithoidichnites of the
Wealdien. (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. of London, t. X, p. 456.)
1895. 0. C. Marsh. — Id.; Id. ( Restoration of some European
Dinosauria, with Suggestions as to their Place among the Rep-
tilia. ) (Amer. Journ. of Science, third series, t. L, p. 407.)
1885. — Id.; le crâne. ( Fourth account of the Dinosauria of Ber—
missart. ( (Bull. Musée roy. d’hist. nat. de Belg., t. II, p. 224.)
1884. L. Dollo. — Les Iguanodons; Prootlas et muscles éle-
veurs des mandibules. ( Fifth account of the Dinosauria of
Bernissart. ) (Ibid., t. III, p. 129.)
1887. Id. — Id. ; Ligaments ossifiés. (. On the ossified ligaments
of the Dinosauria of Bernissart. ) (Arch. de Biol., t.VII, p. 249.)
1885. Id. — Les Crocodiles. ( First account of the Crocodiles of
Bernissart. (Bull. Musée roy. d’hist. nat. de Belg., t. II, p. 309.)
1884. Id. — Les Tortues. ( First account of the Chéloniens of Ber-
missart. ) (Ibid., t. III, p. 65.)
1884. Id. — Le Batracien. ( Account of the Batracian of Bernis-
sart. ) (Ibid., p. 85.)
1878. E. Dupont. — Les Poissons. List of species. (Loc. cit.)
1897. Aug. Lameere et G. Severin. — Les Insectes. ( The Insects
of Bernissart. ) (Ann. Soc. entom. de Belg., t. XLI, p. 55.)
1878. G. de Saporta. — Les Plantes. ( List of groups and their
signification. ) (Loc. cit.)
1895. E. Dupont. — Explanations added to the collections of Ber-
missart in the galleries of the Royal Museum of natural history
of Belgium.
INDEX
INTRODUCTION & º º e
Introductory Geological Information .
Chronological table of the Belgian rocks
Geological map of Belgium. •
Cretaceous rocks of Belgium . º tº
Strata and geological age of the Iguanodons
Animals and vegetables found in the wealden strata of Bernissart
Place where the Iguanodons lived
Organisation and customs of the Iguanodons
Position of Iguanodon when discovered . tº w wº © o
Skull of Iguanodon g o * º & is
Method by which their mode of walking has been determined
1st impression of step of Iguanodon
2nd Counter-impression of same .
3rd Traces of Iguanodons *
4th Femur of Iguanodon . e & tº º º º e
5th Back parts of a buck and muscles joining the 3rd trochanter .
Crocodiles. -
The Goniopholis simus
PAGES
44
42
45
16
48
24
25
25
27
27
28
29
34
32
53
55
The Bernissartia Fagesii . º wº º - wº º º * *
Tortoises . º e e e - & º º e © º
The Chitracephalus Dumonii
The Peltochelys Duchastelli
The Hylaeobatrachus Croyii . © ve • , a
Fish . * º * e e • 2
Insects . e * e º º e º
Plants
SUMMARY . & tº © º º wº & iº * &
List of works on the Wealden strata of Bernissart, its flora and fauna
Bruxelles, PoELEUNIs & CEUTERICK, imprimeurs, rue des Ursulines, 37.
36
57
38
59
44
43
45
47
§ {
iii.
|
>
Ll-
O
>-
|-
(/)
CC
Ll]
>
2
~D
|
§§
∞ √° √
< ∞
§:
tº: ºzº:
Źſë
Ķķ
*（.*
ºsº
ſae§
§§§§§
3 9015 06:197 1480
* * *
！
：
#########

*-*…*… • •*****-a-----， ！！！！！！№ae，
ſae---…-…，●----·^~¿?· ---±，±，±，±，±，±，±，±±£¿ā####
§§·--· ~···~§§§§§：::：:，- ***-§©®.■■■■·**ºº·^∞∞∞（±， ±）*****■ -^----
ae ：-：-·••••• * * *，…，№··∞∞∞∞i√∞
،ĶĒĒĒĒĒĒ.- ·#::::：::::::::：::::::：::::：::：::：:::::::*№ae, §§！！！！！！ſae
… ·-w. *•* •- + +，-，-,- º wae… *• • • • •· •， （） ， ！
*…*…*s* （ <> º
： ~~~~===：：=≡rae
º • ** * <·
“…“.“ ”， “…*?）（ *）（--~~~ = <！-- - -
* * * · · · · · -
ſ--~~）;..……….
'*' +&{};
§§
ģķ
4
§ … ****