134 Perkins^ Remarks on Fossil Bones 



head of Lake Erie ; for we find crossing this lake near its 

 western extremity, an antidinal axis which extends northward 

 into Canada, and southward entirely across the State of Ohio. 

 Now this may have happened at the same period as the disturb- 

 ance or uplift, further east, and the production of this western 

 bJiis may have resulted in turning the course of the outlet, and 

 the formation of the Niagara river ; but more facts are required 

 before any speculations can be offered upon this subject. 



Art. XL — note TO THE EDITORS RESPECTING FOSSIL 

 BONES FROM OREGON. By Henry C. Perkins, M. D., of 



Newbury port. 



Gentlemen, — In the last number of the American Journal 

 of Science may be found the description of a fossil os humeri^ 

 of gigantic dimensions, which, with the knowledge I posses- 

 sed at the date of that paper, I did not presume to name, al- 

 though fully persuaded that the animal to which it belonged 

 should be referred to the order Edentata. Having seen, within 

 a few days, in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical 

 Society, the description by Dr. Harlan, of Philadelphia, of a 

 fossil humerus very like to that in my possession, I am indu- 

 ced to offer this note for publication. 



The fossil humerus described by Dr. Harlan in the paper 

 above referred to, formed part of a large collection of fossil 

 bones obtained by Mr. A. Koch, in Benton county, Missouri. 

 It was " tv/enty inches long, and fourteen in diameter ; of a 

 massive structure and deeply grooved by the muscular attach- 

 ments. In place of a foramen, as in the humerus of the 

 Megalonyx, the exterior surface, near the elbow joint has a 

 deep groove for the origin of the flexor muscles. The con- 

 dyles are of great breadth, as in the Megatherium. The infe- 

 rior articulating surface consists of two facets, one exterior 

 and convex, the other concavo-convex, admitting a gingly- 

 mous and rocking motion." If now we substitute eleven 

 and a quarter in the place of " fourteen," Dr. Harlan has, in 



