Re: When did "T. rex" come into usage?

[Ron Dass <radass@orion.neca.com>]

At 08:33 AM 8/18/97 -0400, you wrote:
>To divert for a moment from the "raptor" discussion, I was curious about
>when the short form "T. rex" came into popular usage. I would imagine
>prior to Jurassic Park. I take it this is legitimate scientific shorthand
>(like _E. coli_) that insinuated its way into popular usage, perhaps first
>through Jack Horner's book. I remember when I first encountered it, I
>didn't like it. The name "Tyrannosaurus" has a menacing sound and
>appearance. "T. rex" just didn't do it. Lends a feeling of "familiarity"
>to a creature that one doesn't really want to get that close to. Kind of
>like calling Dracula "Count D." (Maybe it's popularity started with the
>Nova program "T. rex Exposed"?)


Some time during the late sixties /early seventies there was a rock group
called T Rex.  All I remember is a thumping, heavy metal type base line
and a line that went "bang a gong, get it on" or somethong. Ring any bells,
anyone?

                                        -RD