dinosaur toys

[James Norton <JNorton@MAILBOX.UNE.EDU>]

A recent posting included a reference to a dinosaur toy and I thought I
would share a recent observation.  While browsing in a large toy store
(national chain) I sought out the section where dino toys could be found. 
To my surprise, there inside a $2.49 bag of cheap plastic dinosaurs was
a reasonable facsimile of Archeopteryx, with spread wings, a toothed
mouth, and a long feathered tail.  Also, in a section filled with "Lost
World" spinoff toys, I found a very interesting-looking creature called by
the manufacturer a "Velocirapteryx" (nice name), supposedly a creature
of the Lost World genetic engineers who purposefully mixed DNA from
two archosaurs.  The Velocirapteryx actually resembled some of the
restorations by dino artists on the web, with a feathered crest on the
head, trailing feathers on the arms, and a wide feathered tail.  Looks like
the toy makers are alfeady getting on the feathered dinosaur
bandwagon.

JM Norton