G. NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 303 



notice of the scientific world is not the largest known, al- 

 though it is believed to be the most perfect. It is about 17^- 

 feet long, 18-J- feet high, and 7-J broad. 



These remains have hitherto been in the post-pliocene for- 

 mation, and the fact that all the skeletons have been very 

 perfect, with the bones in proper relationship to each other, 

 seems to suggest that the animals were overwhelmed by a 

 sudden deluge of mud, stone, and gravel, and were not float- 

 ed in water for any length of time. 



It may be interesting to state that Mr. Seguin obtained 

 human bones in such connection with the remains of the 

 megatherium as to leave no doubt in his mind that all were 

 buried simultaneously, and by the same catastrophe. 



ANTARCTIC WHALING. 



The two arctic whalers, Captain David Gray, of the Eclipse, 

 and Captain John Gray, in view of the diminution of whales 

 in the arctic seas, have lately turned their attention to the 

 Antarctic Ocean, and have come to the conclusion that whales 

 of a species similar to the right-whale, or Greenland whale, 

 exist in great numbers in the vicinity of the south pole, and 

 that the establishment of a whale-fishery within that area 

 will be attended with profitable results. They accordingly 

 propose to leave Peterhead in August for that portion of the 

 antarctic area lying between the meridian of Greenwich and 

 ninety degrees west, as being the locality promising the most 

 valuable results. This ground they are to reach in the end 

 of October, and the fishery is to be prosecuted during the 

 four following months, the vessels returning in May. The 

 distance does not exceed 7200 miles from Great Britain, or a 

 two months' easy passage. They recommend the use of two 

 steamers of 800 tons and 120 horse-power. Q A, March, 

 1874,513. 



EXTERMINATION OF BUFFALOES. 



The enormous extent of the destruction of buffaloes on the 

 Western plains seems to have undergone no diminution dur- 

 ing the present winter, and there is every reason to fear that, 

 should this continue a few years longer, the animal will be- 

 come as scarce as is its European congener at the present 

 day. Notwithstanding the countless herds of bisons that 



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