meno ‘New Scientist 15 March 1979 Dinosaurs are among the most Popular exhibits that can be offered by any natural history museum, and popular books of dinosaurs sell in their thou- sands. The main appeal of the ject is to the 8-15 year-olds, although for a few academics it may extend well into senility. From the Popularity of the subject, and the ready availability of information, it would seem reasonable | to Essume ‘that most museum visitors come with # clear and accirate concept of | “dino- Saurs". Alas, this is. not so ‘When questioned, most visitors ideatify. almost all largo tinct vertebrates as. dinosaurs The reasons for this common misconception ein some exhibitions and in almost all Popular books on the subject. First, many of the popular books en dingsaurs are writen by academics whose own understanding of the group resis on a vast body of know- ledge, but which is often ill- defined "or poorly organised, Such" Writers frequently assume a similar sort of under- standing on the part of their readers, and simply do not see anyneed todefine or to explain the group. Secondly, the books and museum exhibits deal with the anatomy, body tempera ture, ecology, ete and pay scant attention to basic facts about the group with which they are dealing. In contrast to this, Alan Charig in his new and outstanding book, A New Look ot the Dinoscurs, states: “T have assumed that my typical reader Is supremely ignorant of dinosaurs and re- lated matters; or, if he has lot of new information. From the several approaches pos- sible we chose to deal with the relationships of the dinossur: The alternative, “ecological”, approach has great appeal and several of our critics claim that this is the one we should have taken, Unfortunately, it has several weaknesses not the least that it leads to a series of isolated statements such as: “Tyrannosaurus rex was the largest flesh eater of all Even before opening Its replanned display of dinosaurs ‘London’s Natural History Museum wi faced by a barrage of criticism. Here we invite one of its organisers to explain the thinking behind the new exhibition isernt something, that which he has learnt is wrong or out of date.” Charig’ lives upto this ‘statement, He devotes several pages to clear explana tion of the terms dinosaur and Dinosauria, and shews what is induded ia the “group and what is excluded. He carefully explains the characteristics ‘and problems associated. with ‘the grouping. “when we. Set out to replan the display of dinosaurs at the Brtish Museum (Natural His: tory) we accepted that. most vistors would have serious misconceptions about "dino. Sa0rs. Moreover, we. realised thet many visitors would want to learn about these fascinat- ing fossils. So with carefal treatment, we could impart. @ ‘Time; the ceratopsians were the “very first palm wine rinkers; Ornithomimus may hhave eaten eggs.” All very interesting, but not inspiring and without any structure. Certainly not anything that a modern scientist would be proud of! In contrast, a treatment of the relationships of the dino- saurs can rely on specimens and objective interpretations from them. It is an approach that has not been attempted before, either in popular book or exhibition form. This was the approach we chose. ‘The late lamented display of dinosaurs at the Natural His- tory Museum was essentially a display of dinosaur diversity but the accompanying infor- mation lacked overall struc. ture. Any diversity display must fulfl two specific aims: it must show the range of characteristics in it must show the group. Most existing diversity displays in museums fulfl the first aim but give little atten Uion to the second. Planning the redisplay of | dinosaurs therefore concentrated on the two general aims of correcting ‘misconceptions and imparting new knowledge about dino. saurs, and the specific aims of showing dinosaur diversity and establishing the limits of the group ‘dinosaurs’. ‘The first of the specific aims is fulfilled simply by showing as wide a range of dinosaurs ‘a5 possible. The exhibition im. cludes five mounted dinosaur skeletons—Diplodocus, 71 ceratops, Iguanodon, Gallimi- ‘mus and Hypsilophodon—the skull of Tyrannosaurus and a large block containing the skeleton of Seolasaurus. The second aim is far more diff alt to fulfil, but it provides the conceptual framework on which the visitor can build supplementary information on dinosaur natural history that is presented with the spect mens and the accompanying book thet will be published ‘this summer. ‘The identification and defini- ieee tether ree