80 Dr Rensselaer^s discovery of the 



Art. 'X.\h'-^ Account of the Discovert/ of an almost entire Ske- 

 leton of the Fossil Mastodon. * By Jeremiah Van Rens- 

 selaer, M. D. of New York. 



We were induced to search for these remains, from having 

 seen lately exhibited at the Lyceum of Natural History, a 

 tooth, which proved upon examination, to belong to this in- 

 teresting genus, and which was said to have been found near 

 Long Branch. 



About three miles west of that watering place, is situated 

 the farm of Poplar, occupied by William Croxson, Esq. and 

 who, nearly six years ago, began to reclaim a marsh about a 

 quarter of a mile from the house. This marsh was usually 

 covered by about two feet of water, which was much increased, 

 however, inwet seasons. The water was easily drained off, 

 when the moisture having evaporated, and the earthy particles 

 consolidated, the surface sunk very gradually between two 

 and three feet below its former level, except in those places 

 where extensive beds of bog-iron-ore had been formed. These 

 afforded an opportunity of judging pretty accurately of the 

 subsidence of the present surface. 



Last year, in crossing this field formed by the reclaimed 

 marsh, the attention of the proprietor was attracted by some- 

 thing sticking out of the ground, which proved to be a tooth. 

 He then searched a little, and found part of the head of a 

 large animal partially exposed, being covered by grass only. 

 With the assistance of a spade he found other bones, which 

 he took up and had removed to his house. 



Visiting New York this spring, he brought with him the 

 tooth, which led us to inquire for the remaining portions of 

 the skeleton. 



Mr Croxson had the kindness to conduct us to the spot, 

 where we soon found sufficient inducement to dig, and in a 

 short time our hopes were fully realized, and our most san- 

 guine expectations surpassed. In the course of that and the 



• From Dr Silliman's Journal, vol. xi. No. ii. p. 245. For a full ac- 

 count of the history of this fossil animal, see the Edinburgh Encyclopoedia, 

 Art. Organic Remains^ vol. xv. p. 721. 



