Trail is the sixteenth chapter in the Fourth Configuration. Here Levine continues to observe the Parasaurolophus herd, is biten by a Procompsognathus then get picked up by Eddie.
Plot[]
Richard Levine is still in the jungle, following the Parasaurolophus herd. He know knows why they walk in a single file; the dense jungle prohibits any wide scattering. They are still emitting sounds, however, the sound is now high-pitched. Levine follows the sound and starts to smell foul odor, yet also sweet-smelling. The sounds have now changed to to a clipped bark and he knows they are agitated yet doesn't know what would agitate such a large dinosaur. He moves further inside and hears them produce a trumpeting cry again.
Eddie Carr drives up to the High Hide and cannot not find Levine. Noticing both dinosaur tracks and Levine's boot marks, he is reluctant to enter the jungle yet final moves in. Levine is has spotted a parasaurolophus that is swinging its head constantly. He sees it urinate, then spot the others also urinating, positioning themselves in various positions in a clearing. Michael Crichton writes that this is similar to rhinos and deer - they preferred to pass urine in particular spots and in coordination. Yet, no scientist ever knew dinosaurs acted that way. Levine then sees the herd defecating together, then again emitting low-trumpeting sounds and finally producing flatulence.
Eddie interrupts, calling it "dino farts" and remarking says not to light a match or the place will explode. Levine rudely tells him to be quiet, silently considers Eddie as a 'vulgar young fool' and Levine is only interested in the parasaurolophus group behavior. They perform a weird act: licking their own urine. Levine theorizes this is to regain lost nutrients or even hormones. The text again indicates people have almost no clear understanding of dinosaur behavior and no one could ever. Levine knows he can only form his own opinions. Suddenly the herd produced their last cry and moved further into the jungle. Levine attempts to follow yet Eddie says to join him on the bike. New dinosaurs suddenly appear and Levine instantly identifies them as Procompsognathus. Crichton writes John Ostrom produced the most detailed studies on them - there were no clear procompsognathus skeletons found. Levine finds it amazing that the compys only eat the fresh dung and drink the left over urine and and not revenants as normal scavengers would. He tries to obtain a sample of the dung, however is bitten by a compy. Eddie yells at him to join him on the bike and they are getting away.
Goof[]
There is no clear evidence that compys were scanvengers. Their diet was small animals, including insects and lizards.
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