Chapter 5 is the longest in the book; and it is, in my opinion, the most important. Horner provides a brief discussion of anatomical terms that will help the amateur paleontologist determine what to call different bones. He then spends the rest of the chapter covering the many different species of dinosaurs which can be found in Montana. He provides the species name of the dinosaur, a pronunciation guide and a translation of what the name means. Horner lists the museum identification number of the type specimen of the particular dinosaur, and a description of what the animal looked like, especially any characteristics that can be used to differentiate it from other similar dinosaurs. He also provides illustrations of characteristics to look for.
In Chapter 6, Horner discusses "pseudofossils," those look-alikes that can fool the amateur and professional paleontologist alike. He covers concretions, nodules, geodes and odd-shaped rocks, which can look deceptively like dinosaur bones and eggs.
In Chapter 7, Horner discusses the collection, preservation and curation of vertebrate fossils. He illustrates how to prepare a plaster jacket to protect a fossil in the field and how to document the fossil for future researchers. In Chapter 8, Horner lists museums in Montana where you can see dinosaur fossils and places where you can see dinosaur fossils being excavated.
The appendices are also useful -- Horner provides a list of federal and Montana agencies that manage land in Montana. He also provides a section on dinosaur anatomy with helpful photographs and illustrations, as well as a glossary of paleontological terms and a list of references.
Dinosaurs Under the Big Sky is full of helpful illustrations as well as photographs and several lush paintings by artist Bill Parsons. It is published by Mountain Press Publishing Company, the publisher of the Roadside Geology series. These are indispensable books for both professional and amateur geologists and paleontologists.
