Dinosaur Eggs Unscrambled

Geologist Robert Young was exploring Wells Gulch in western Colorado last summer when he picked up what seemed to be an interesting rock. Some rock. It turned out to be part of a cache of what are probably the oldest dinosaur eggs ever discovered. Though now shattered, the 145 million-year-old eggs would have measured approximately 8 in. long and 3 1/2 in. across. Young, whose find was announced last week, has no idea what species of dinosaur produced the eggs, but they may shed new light on nesting habits of the prehistoric beasts. Most dinosaurs, like modern reptiles, probably laid eggs, even though few nests have ever been unearthed. Young argues that the reptiles sought out isolated sites and used them repeatedly. Reason: he found shells in at least six layers of nests. Says Paleontologist Harley Armstrong of the Museum of Western Colorado: "This is a great detective story."