Nessletter - No 025 - 1977

Magazine Overview

This document is issue number 25 of the Ness Information Service Nessletter, dated December 1977. It is a magazine-style publication primarily in English, focusing on topics related to the Loch Ness Monster and scientific theories surrounding prehistoric life, particularly dinosaurs.

Sighting

The issue begins with an update on a sighting reported in a previous issue (NIS 24). On Saturday, October 29th, three young people—Miss Joan Murray, Caroline Mackay, and Helen Stewart—reported seeing 'Nessie' at Fort Augustus. They observed two humps and a thin, tapering neck, all appearing dark-colored. The phenomenon was estimated to be half a mile offshore, moved for a while, submerged, and then reappeared briefly before disappearing. The entire episode lasted about fifteen minutes, with good weather and visibility, though it began to drizzle shortly after.

Warmblooded

This section delves into the theory that dinosaurs might have been warmblooded, which could explain the presence of a 'left-over' creature in Loch Ness, perhaps a plesiosaurus. The traditional view of dinosaurs as cold-blooded is challenged by growing scientific thought. Neil Alexander, Professor of Zoology at Leeds University, has researched animal movement and developed a 'froud' number to estimate speed based on leg bone length and stride. Applying this to fossil brontosaurus footprints, he calculated a speed of 2 m.p.h. and noted that a 70-ton brontosaurus traveling at 12 m.p.h. would have broken its legs. This method also indicated that some dinosaurs were very swift. Professor John Ostrum of Yale University has studied a new dinosaur, Dinonicus, described as a 4-5 feet tall, 8 feet long carnivore weighing around 175 pounds, possessing a sickle-like claw and a stiff, pole-like tail for balance. This suggests an agile, nimble animal, different from the typical 'Komodo dragon-like' image. The high neurological development found in some fossil dinosaurs indicates a division between slow, reptile-like animals and faster, mammal-like ones, raising the question of warmbloodedness.

The Harvard University field station's research on animal oxygen use is mentioned, highlighting the efficient system of mammals like ponies for sustained movement. In contrast, reptiles, despite being able to move fast, quickly run out of oxygen due to less efficient lungs and primitive hearts compared to mammals. The University of Minnesota is also conducting similar research. The concept of 'warmblooded' versus 'coldblooded' is simplified; while mammals maintain a body temperature around 37°C, reptiles are around 35°C. Mammals use food for heat, while reptiles rely on external heat, though some lizards can 'fine-tune' their temperature by adjusting their position to the sun.

Work at the University of Paris, spanning 11 years, involves analyzing fossil bone slices, revealing cells and capillaries even in 150-million-year-old specimens. These are compared to present-day animal bones. Lizard bones show densely packed cells with unclear boundaries, unlike a fox's bones with oval cells and many blood capillaries, reflecting a higher metabolic and growth rate in mammals. Fossil dinosaur bones exhibit clear oval cells with abundant capillaries, similar to mammals.

Warmblooded animals regulate temperature through panting, sweating, or exposing skin. Professor John Ostrum studied Stegasaurs, noting its upright plates with large openings. Sectioning a plate revealed large blood canals, suggesting they were not solid armor but could be flushed with blood to regulate temperature. Yale University engineering faculty used a wind tunnel with a heated model and found that a twin row of staggered plates, similar to Stegasaurs, was the most efficient design for heat regulation.

Dr. Dale Russell of Ottawa University is researching carnivorous dinosaurs. Studies at the London Zoo on lions' eating habits are hoped to provide clues for dinosaur diets. A 300 lb lion eats 10 lb of meat daily, consuming its weight in steak over five weeks. This is compared to the Nile Crocodile, which eats much less and relies more on external heat. Bob Barker uses prey ratios to search for signs of warmbloodedness in the fossil record, comparing carnivores to prey animals. He found that primitive reptiles had a high ratio (about 7 carnivores to 8 prey animals), indicative of cold-bloodedness. As evolution progressed towards mammal-like reptiles and then dinosaurs, the prey ratio dropped significantly, suggesting endothermic evolution. Despite criticisms about potential errors in fossilization data, Barker points to consistent findings across numerous fossil collections, showing a marked difference between primitive reptiles and mammals/dinosaurs.

In 1970, Professor Ostrum identified a fossil mislabeled as a Pterosaur as an Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, based on its hind legs and feather marks. He noted similarities between Archaeopteryx and small carnivorous dinosaurs, concluding that birds likely evolved from a branch of the dinosaurs. The article suggests that if dinosaurs were warmblooded, it could explain their long-term success and even their presence in cold environments like Loch Ness.

The Academy of Applied Science

Bob Rines and his team operated cameras in Loch Ness over the winter, a difficult task due to weather conditions. The camera in Castle Bay has been lost. This bay is located between Strone Point and Castle Urquhart on the south side of Urquhart Bay. The lost camera was in an area about the size of a soccer pitch, 80 feet deep, with a ridge of 60 feet depth along the outer rim. Divers recovered the main mooring rope, which appeared to have been cut at the surface. The camera 'pot' was on a secondary line, and despite powerful lights, visibility was under six feet. The camera could have been anywhere within a 40-foot radius or drifted off on its buoy. The cut rope is not considered a puzzle, as similar incidents have been attributed to night-time salmon poachers over the years.

Odds and Ends

This section contains correspondence from readers. Paul Covell suggested a get-together for members, acknowledging the difficulty of finding a central rendezvous due to members being scattered. He proposed printing a list of members to facilitate local connections and provided his address: Sandstones, Old Lane, St.Johns, Crowborough, Sussex, TN6 1RX. The editor offered to print addresses if members wished.

Jacob McPherson from Altus, Oklahoma, USA, requested a list of US members. The editor has provided his contact information instead, inviting anyone to write to him.

The newsletter concludes by marking the end of NIS number 25, wishing members a Happy New Year and encouraging them to send in news and views. The editor's address is provided as R.R.Hepple, Huntshieldford, St Johns Chapel, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. Subscription rates are UK £1.25 and USA/Canada $7.00.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing investigation into the Loch Ness Monster, with a specific sighting report and updates on monitoring efforts, and the scientific exploration of dinosaur biology, particularly the theory of warmbloodedness. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting scientific theories and research alongside eyewitness accounts. The publication encourages reader participation through correspondence and the sharing of news and views, fostering a community around these subjects.