On April 1st, Stegosaurus, Styracosaurus and Edmontosaurus returned to Colorado from Wyoming. Congresssaurus Triceratops and Steve Beavers remained in Wyoming, telling Stegosaurus that he and his friends were always welcome, and please come again!
“Don't worry, friends, we may be out of coffee plants, but there's still plenty to eat,” said Stegosaurus.
“What can you recommend ?” asked Edmontosaurus.
“In times like these, I recommend aloe plants. I always recommend aloe plants for their calming properties. I have plenty in my garden, and willing to share!”
While Stegosaurus was in his garden, Styracosaurus exclaimed, “Stegosaurus, you have a guest! Corythosaurus has arrived!”
“Stegosaurus, your loyal accountant is here!” said Corythosaurus.
“Very glad to see you,” said Stegosaurus. “Welcome.“
“It is nice to see you and with some friends visiting. I am glad to join the crowd!”
“We have another hadrosaur with us,” said Stegosaurus. “I assume you have met Edmontosaurus before.”
“Indeed I have; we were both discovered along the same stretch of the Red River,” said Corythosaurus.
“So nice to see you again,” said Edmontosaurus. I actually stopped by Canada a few months ago for a visit, but you were not home at that time.”
“My apologies. Tax season is a very busy for me."
“No worries; we have millions of yours to catch up!” said Edmontosaurus.
“Excuse me if this seems paranoid, but I feel like someone else is nearby. Could it be Tyrannosaurus Rex?” asked Styracosaurus.
“Not as bad as all that,” assured Stegosaurus. “Fear not, for it is only our friends Agathaumas and Trachodon.”
“Hail, and well met,” said Agathaumas. “Sorry for alarming you, Styracosaurus.We have heard that Edmontosaurus is here and we’d like to meet him.”
“No worries at all, good friend. I was being excessively cautious.” said Styracosaurus.
EEdomtosaurus stomped up to Trachodon and said, “I feel like we have met before; surely I have seen you somewhere. Like Corythosaurus, have you ever been to the Red River in Canada?”
“No, I am not from Canada,” said Trachodon. I was discovered and classified by Professor Joseph Leidy ( 1823 ~ 1891 ) in 1856. Professor Leidy discovered some hadrosaur and probably ceratopsian teeth along the Judith River formation in Montana. These were collected by Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden ( 1829 ~1887 ) . Eventually, Professor Leidy decided that I was probably the teeth of Ednontosaurus or another fellow hadrosaur I haven’t seen here yet, Lambeosaurus. I could also be certatopisan so maybe a Triceratops or Styracosaurus! My name was meant to mean “Rough tooth” Though thanks to prominent paleoartists and pop culture I am the iconic hadrosaur, I was declared nomen dubium, and agreed that I do not exist.”
“We could well be brothers of the same species,” observed Edmontosaurus.
“I would be perfectly content with that,” said Trachodon happily.
“Well, since we are talking about ourselves, I might as well tell my story,” said Agathaumas.
I was partially discovered in Wyoming in the year 1872 by Fielding Bradford Meek ( 1817 ~ 1876 ) and Henry Martyn Bannister ( 1844 ~ 1920 ). These two mammals were searching for fossil shells in the Lance formation when I was found, and they were employed by Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, who is part of Trachodon’s story. Meek and Bannister immediately informed Edward Drinker Cope ( 1840 ~ 1897 ) who went to the site where I was found and recovered more of the fossil bones attributed to be mine. Professor Cope named me in 1873, and my name means “Great Wonder” in Greek. This was before our friends the sauropods were known and discovered so at that time I was the largest land animal ever to be known. I was not assigned to the Ceritopcidae until the year 1889; there were some who thought I might actually be of the hadrosaur family, and in addition to that, Professor Cope did not think the Ceritopcidae could be distinguished from other taxa; the Certiopcidae were classified by Stegosaurus’ father Professor O.C. Marsh ( 1831 ~ 1899 ). Cope's decision was genuine and not part of his well known rivalry with Marsh; for a brief time I was my own taxon, the Agahaumidae; but Professor Cope began to realize that I should be part of the Triceratops family, and classified me as such in the year 1889. There were 5 other dinosaurs classified with me, but eventually they were all declared nomen dubium and the classification of Agathaumidae was eventually abandoned in 1892. I was pleased to be painted by Charles R. Knight ( 1874 ~ 1953 ) in 1897; I was so happy to be painted with a smile. It was an honor to work with him. About 5 to 10 years before I was declared nomen dubium, I appeared in the 1925 film The Lost World with Stegosaurus … truly my greatest moment. I was, however declared nomen dubium in the 1930s by Richard Swan Lull ( 1867 ~ 1957) He finished a report on the Ceritopcidae begun by Professor Marsh and John Bell Hatcher ( 1861~ 1904 ). I don’t let the fact that I don’t exist get me down; I have to remember I was immortalized with a smile on my face and know that philosphically, just because you don’t exist, does not mean you can’t do anything.”
“That’s what I like about you Agathaumas,” said Trachodon. “In almost every circumstance, you find the most positive outlook; you are always so cheerful!”
“Well, Stegosaurus,” said Corythosaurus, “I have completed your taxes, and need you to sign some documents so that they may be filed. The great news is, your various businesses and investments are doing very well, and you are still worth 44.6 million dollars."
"Wow. I went from being worth $10.00, to $42.08, and then all the way to 44.6 million!"
"Small children everywhere love you for some reason," said Corythosaurus, "But so do wealthy investors and collectors of your fossils."
"Bless my dear mother, who had the foresight to invest in broadleaf trees," said Stegosaurus.
"She would be proud today of your various accomplishments," said Corythosaurus.
"Broadleaf trees are very delicious."
"They go very well with a nice homemade bread," said Stegosaurus.
"Come, friends, as soon as I finish my paperwork, let us all stomp together into the Colorado hills, where there are some very fine dining establishments. I will show you the best trees Colorado has to offer." said Stegosaurus.
"You are always the most gracious host," said Corythosaurus.
Stegosaurus and his friends shortly stomped out as a herd and dined on several groves of Colorado Blue Spruce ( Picea pungens ). At the end of the month, Styracosaurus, Edmontosaurus and Corythosaurus returned to Canada, while Trachodon and Agathuaumas planned to visit Congresssaurus Triceratops in Wyoming. It was such a pleasant spring; Stegosaurus could hardly wait for the summer months and all the adventures that they would bring.
