Mack, Colorado, July 27, 1909



My dear Dr. Holland:

I think it will interest you to know at the earliest date that it looks as if we were to have a skull of Brontosaurus -- at least a good part of one. It is in a sandstone block just below the cliff from which it has fallen and in which there are many fragments of bones. I cant represent the [sketch] thing by diagram very intelligently but It appears to me that the side of the skull is intact from the long slender incisors back about 2 1/2 feet -- at least there is continuous bone from the incisors back 30 inches or more. The top of the skull is not in this block but it has evidently been broken off and is not far away. In fact many of the blocks have bones in them and one we found is probably part of the top. There are traces of the lower jaw and teeth there. I think, but am not sure, that there are rudiments of maxillary teeth. I found part of a maxillary near with roots of large tooth, and one large Dinosaur tooth right near but I think this is another Dino.

I will carefully preserve the portion in the block and search the slope not leaving a stone unturned. It think it not improbable that we will get the greater portion of the skull and perhaps the mandible as they were apparently buried together, and being in blocks of sandstone that are pretty hard we ought to secure the most of it. We mustnt be too hopeful however, though I cannot make anything else of it, in fact the teeth and the 2 1/2 ft of continuous bone makes it almost certain.

I thought this would be very interesting to you in view of the fact that we are to have a Brontosaurus mounted. I had recently told people that the skull of a Brontosaurus would pay for a summers expedition. I can assert right now, though, that it is not a perfect skull like that of Triceratops found by our old friend Bill. But I remember your saying that the skull of Bronto. was unknown.

I have sent to Stewart for your paper on Diplodocus and for Marsh's Dinosaur paper.

I have found also that the Wasatch is sparingly fossiliferous at every large exposure that I have visited, and the exposures are continuous for 40 miles along the line of the railroad. In one place, where they lie just above the coal formation the[y] looked so enticing that I wanted to jump out of the window and get after them. There is a bad land region there in which I feel almost sure there are fossils. But it may be lower than Wasatch, Puerco!! or Torrejon!!! If so all the better.

So I think it best and most economical to confine my work principally to the country along the R.R. If I cannot get a man and team at a reasonable price I can hire provisions brought and camp moved.

You see we have not in the Museum a single specimen from the Wasatch unless it be two specimens that I found in Montana. I have already collected this year several interesting Wasatch fossils, just how interesting I cannot tell yet. I believe though that a skull and skeleton of Coryphodon can be found.

The Dinosaur bones that I found near here last year -- though there are hundreds or thousands of pounds of fragments -- are no good. Evidently they were injured before burial. I fear that this is the case with those on Green River though those are better (I mean those north of G.R.) and, I think, different from anything we have.

I think I shall take a trip to Myton, examine Smith's skeleton and see what the prospect is in that country for another year.

Hoping you are well and enjoying life and if you would like to visit this lonely region after the hubbub of Europe would be glad to have a visit from you. Will try to have a cook by that time and feed you better.



Yours in hope,

Earl Douglass

Mack, Utah [sic]