Dinosaur Hunters

by Murphy-Lamb, Lisa

• ISBN13: 9781551539829
• ISBN10: 1551539829
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-13
• Publisher: Heritage Group Dist

Summary

Dinosaur hunters are tough, observant, and tenacious. They have to be in order to survive the gritty heat of badlands, swarms of mosquitoes, and extreme conditions. This incredible collection includes the story of the first dinosaur bone found on Canadian soil as well as the recent exciting discoveries by the Royal Tyrrell's Dr. Philip Currie. Prepare to enter the world of the dinosaur hunter.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Canada's First Dinosaur Hunter

Dinosaur Bones and Coal

A Family of Dinosaur Hunters

The Great Canadian Dinosaur Rush

War and Change

A Modern Dinosaur Hunter

Epilogue

Bibliography

Dinosaur Data

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

PrologueHe walks along the footpath of the familiar land, the dry earth crunching beneath his boots, a small chisel swinging from his belt. The air is hot and dusty, and the retreating sun casts a warm, orange glow on the canyon walls. He likes to climb alone at this time of day, when his responsibilities with the fossil hunting party are over and he can explore the maze of wind-carved hoodoos in peace.The rock outcroppings running along the steep cliff sides tell the stories of ancient history: a grey rock layer indicates a time when forests covered the land; a sandy layer is all that is left behind by the fast-flowing rivers that once flooded the area. The dinosaur bones are sealed in the sandstone layer. This is what he's here for.The sun is sinking low and the mosquitoes are out in force. He should turn back. It will be dark soon and he does not want to get lost in the labyrinth of pinnacles and hoodoos. But what if the next turn he makes brings him to a bone or an overlooked bed of dinosaur remains? He knows that as each season progresses, more dinosaur bones are revealed by the elements at work on the canyon walls.At the end of the ridge he sees nothing but loose rock and another deep gully ahead. Noting the sun's crouched position, he knows he must head back to camp. But as he turns to go, he suddenly slips and loses his balance. His misstep upsets the dirt at his feet and reveals what he is looking for.He stoops, pokes a long forefinger into the dust, and uncovers what looks like a piece of rock. But it is not just a rock. It is a fossilized bone with a dense outer layer - the bone of a carnivore. His heart pounds and he quickly forgets about his tired and aching muscles. He feels only the hard surface of the dinosaur bone and the incredible rush of discovery. Where there is one bone, there are likely to be others.