180 



THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



scattered along the streams and at springs. On wash days the women con- 

 gregate along the streams, washing the clothes on flat stones — often the 

 same stones on which they grind their daily corn. 



Having had fossils injured by curious nati^•es in northern Mexico, I 

 feared that harm might come to this ^•aluahle specimen if found by them, 

 so exercised considerable care to ride to it unobserved until it should be 



completely prepared for 

 transportation. When 

 ready for shipment it 

 weighed over four hun- 

 dred pounds. The work 

 of carrying the fossil to 

 Ameca pro^■ed a consid- 

 erable problem. An ox- 

 cart, because of its 

 uncertainty was not to 

 be considered, therefore 

 the mail- carrier of the 

 town was persuaded to 

 transport the fossil in 

 his wagon — that is, from 

 the point where the road 

 began. From the bad 

 lands down to this road 

 eight peons carried the 

 specimen suspended from 

 a pole, making a pictur- 

 esque group, as are all 

 seen along Mexican 

 roads. Before this dis- 

 co\ery there were in ex- 

 istence two glyi)todont 

 carapaces from the val- 

 ley of Mexico, both pre- 

 served in Mexico City. 

 They with this third 

 specimen from .Vmeca 

 show characters in the 

 teeth, |)elvis and cara- 

 pace that distinguish the 

 Mexican glyptodonts from known South American genera. On account 

 of the peculiar shape of the carapace, which is short and liigli. this genus 

 has been named Brachi/ostracon. 



In the valleys white-clad men cultivate the fields with 

 wood pointed plows drawn by oxen 



What tlu' canici is in desert Africa, the hurro is to Mexico 



