MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS. 



A LMOST every one is aware that the mammoth was a 

 -^'-^ quadruped of huge dimensions. The name has been 

 transferred to other objects of extraordinary magnitude. 

 The mammoth is generally understood to have been an 

 elephant-like creature, possessing the majestic mien and 

 ponderous tread of the living proboscidians of Africa and 

 India. But no one could fail to stand acfhast with amaze- 

 ment at the magnitude of the truthful restoration of the 

 creature, as first exhibited in this country, three years 

 ago, in the Natural Science establishment of Professor 

 Henry A. Ward, of Rochester. Menageries have made us 

 all familiar with the bulky and graceless grandeur of the 

 modern elephants. We have seen in America a number 

 of mounted skeletons of the extinct mastodon: while the 

 bones and teeth of this elephantine predecessor of man 

 have fallen under the observation of almost ever}^ child. 

 But nobody had adequately conceived the astonishing mag- 

 nitude to which the old mammoth of Europe, Asia and 

 America sometimes attained. AVithin a few years the 

 monster has been carefully reconstructed, and Professor 

 Ward's enterprise has introduced him to the notice of 

 American geologists and the American public. Permit me 

 to recall the impressions made by a visit to the Rochester 

 establishment. 



As the visitor enters the door of the building, which 



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