102 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS MASTODON. Cuvier. 



Many characters in common with the Elephant, which it equalled or surpassed in size. Mo- 

 lars with sharp, elevated, conical teeth, which, when partly worn, display lozenges of 

 enamel. In the adult, four molars above and four below. A vertical section of the upper 

 incisors or tusks exhibits concentric plates of enamel. In the young, there are two incisors 

 in the lower jaw, straight, short and conical. Tail moderate, about the length of that of 

 the Elephant. 



Obs. The whole amount of teeth in the Mastodon, from infancy to old age, appears to be 

 twenty-six. In infancy, sixteen molars and two lower incisors ; the hindmost molars, as they 

 emerge, gradually pushing the others forward and out of their places, until the latter all drop 

 out, and a large solitary tooth is left in each jaw. It is obviously inferred that they possessed 

 long flexible trunks, as in the Elephants ; and its habits are similar, though less exclusively 

 herbivorous. 



THE GREAT MASTODON. 



Mastodon maximus. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Animal incognitum. Rembrant Peale, Hist. Disq. Loud. Mag. 

 Maslodo?i giganteum et majdmus. Cuvier, Oss. Foss. 

 Rhinoceros, Telracaulodon and Mammoth, of various writers.* 



From an early period in the history of this country after its settlement by Europeans, large 

 bones were occasionally found, which excited considerable speculation. They were considered, 

 according to the intelligence of their respective discoverers and commentators, as having be- 

 longed to a race of giants or fallen angels, or to have belonged to Elephants. It was reserved 

 for Cuvier, in the work cited above, to show that they belonged to an animal generically 



* The American authorities are so numerous, that it would require too much space to insert them all. For those who are 

 disposed to investigate the American history of the discovery of this animal, we would make the following references : 



Mather, Royal Philos. Trans. 1712. Madison, lb. Vol. 15, p. 38. 



Dudley, Mass. Hist. Coll. 2nd series, Vol. 2, p. 263. Cuvier, Theory of the Earth, N. Y. Ed. 



Turner, Am. Phil. Trans. Vol. 4, p. 510. Peale, Am. Phil. Trans. 



Hunter, Am. Museum, Vol. 5, p. 152. Godman, Vol. 3, p. 478 ; Vol. 4, p. 317. 



Collinson, lb. p. 155; lb. Vol. 8, p. 284. In. Ac. Nat. Sc. Vol. 4, p. G7. 



Madison, Phil. Med. & Phys. Vol.2, p. 58; lb. Vol. 1, p. 156. Harlan, Fauna Americana. 



Bossu, lb. Vol. 1, p. 179. Id. MeJ. and Phys. Researches. 



Jefferson, lb. Vol. 1, p. 64. De Kay, &c. Ann. Lye. Vol. 1, p. 143. 



Barton, Rhinoceros! II). Vol. 2, p. 1, p. 153. Cooper, Am. Jour. Geol. Vol. 1, p. 158. 



Drayton, Hist. Carolina. Id. Am. Jour. Sc. Vol. 12, p. 381 ; Vol. 14, p. 187; Vol. 27, p 

 Graham & Miller, Med. Rep. Vol. 4, p. 211 and 308. 1G0; Vol. 31, p. 171. 



Mitchill, Med. Rep. Vol. 9, p. 322; Vol. 11, p. 318, 319. 



