H.M.S. Beagle Publications
Polly the Psittacosaurus Comes to Parkville
This
is how we first found Polly the Psittacosaurus (si-TAK-oh-sore-us). It was partially articulated and the
verterbral column was mounted on a flimsy copper tubing armature. The vertebral column, skull, articulated limbs and a
package of ribs were all encased in this 6-foot long Styrofoam carrying case (just as it had been shipped from China for
the 2004 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show). We had been alerted to the fact that one or more complete fossils of
Psittacosaurus would be available at the show, and we were determined to acquire one.
Polly was delivered to Gil and Tim Parker (father and son) for the final
preparation of the fossil (the skull,
pelvis and shoulder girdle were still partially imbedded in matrix). Once fully prepared, Polly was mounted on steel
armatures and placed on a sturdy base for display in the H.M.S. Beagle store. The Parkers may also make molds of the
individual fossilized bones and these may eventually be used to make multiple casts for distribution to schools,
collectors and museums.
It is, of course, difficult to know how Polly may have looked in life. This is a graphic of a scale model
of a Psittacosaurus from the Carnegie Museum Collection of dinosaurs. H.M.S. Beagle has offered these models for sale in its on-line
store, and you can see them following this link.
To
see Polly today, come in to the store, or check out this link
to our webstore, where she currently resides.