[Annals N. Y. Acad. Scr., Vol. XVIII, No. 4, Part II, p. 147. 15 April, 1908.] 



THE CHESTER, NEW YORK, MASTODON. 



The accompanying plate gives a facsimile reproduction of a sketch 

 and description of the skull and tusks of a mastodon found at Chester near 

 Goshen, N. Y., which seem to have some value on accoimt of the representa- 

 tion of the tusks in place. The sheet of legal cap paper, yellowed with age, 

 bearing the sketch in pencil and the legend in ink were found in December 

 1907, in an old book in the library of the Lyceum of Natural History, now 

 the New York Academy of Sciences. A transcript of the legend follows. 



Delineated by P. S. Townsend, M. D., 



(from Nature) May 29, 1817. 



Appearance of the Tusks of the Elephas Mastodonta , disinterred at Chester, 

 township of Goshen, Orange County, State of New York, May 29th, 1817; by Drs. 

 Mitchill, P. S. Townsend and Townsend Seely. The tusks are continuous with the 

 upper jaw the four teeth of which are observable at their base. These tusks are 

 nine feet in length, of pure ivory: becoming more and more of a bony nature before 

 they expand into the jaw where they are entirely of the same nature with tliat bone. 

 The tooth immediately situated upon the base of the tusk is 3 inches square, the one 

 adjacent 6 by 3. The circumference of the tusk at the base 26 inches. The position 

 of the jaw is horizontal and inverted. It lay about 6 feet below the surface of the 

 soil, which soil to that depth consisted of a loose black mould mingled apparently 

 with the comminuted fibres of sea- weeds and ha\T[ng the smell of Limus — it then 

 changed to a pure pale-bluish clay. 



P. S. T. 



N. B. The nasal bones (?) are observable at the divergence of the tusks & are 

 continuous with them. 



Drs. Townsend (also spelled Townshend) and Mitchill were two of the 

 founders of the Lyceum of Natural History and were prominent scientists of 

 New York of the early part of the nineteenth century. Dr. Mitchell was 

 the first president of the Lyceum, serving from 1817 to 1823 inclusive. The 

 village of Chester is now in the to\\Tiship of the same name. No record has 

 been found showing the later history of this specimen. 



E. O. HOVEY, 



Recording Secretary. 



147 



