34 THE MASTODOX. 



mastodon birth. The mind can picture to itself a scene 

 which may have taken place. It can behold a man sitting 

 on yonder rock, against the mountain's side, viewing the 

 landscape beneath him, and contemplating the scenery 

 which greets his eyes. Nearly ever^^thing is new ; it is a 

 new world ; in many respects, outAvardly, it is our earthly 

 dream of paradise ; new plants, new flowers, curious trees? 

 strange birds and beasts, as well as those whose forms are 

 familiar, are here. To the left stretches out a beautiful 

 lake which receives the contents of the meandering streams 

 as they flow from the mountain's side, the forest, or the 

 rolling meadow beyond. Upon the banks of the lake and 

 larger streams, the slimy serpents lie basking in the sun, 

 while the heavy crocodiles drag their unwieldy bodies along 

 the miry shore, and the huge hippopotami and rhinoceros 

 push their way through the high marshy grass. In front is 

 a beautiful forest with trees rivalling those of other ages, 

 some are radiant with flowers, others bending to the ground 

 with their ripened fruit, while here and there stands a 

 monarch towering high above all. Low murmuring noises 

 proceed from this enchanting scene w^iich tell that ani- 

 mated forms are concealed within and beneath the supera- 

 bundant foliage. Within the foliage may be heard the 

 sweet notes of the feathered songster, and here and there 

 they may be seen dressed in the richest and most varie- 

 gated plumage. Suddenly the spectator's attention is 

 drawn to a spot not far removed from the base of the moun- 

 tain. Crashing through the forest comes the mightiest 

 of all beasts, the Dinotherium, the colossus of the ancient 

 world, with its elephantine trunk raised aloft, its jaws wide 

 open, and with stupendous strides, making every endeavor 

 to secure protection beneath the water of the neighboring 

 river. It is hotly pursued by the Machairodus (an animal 

 larger than the tiger), which shortly overtakes it and with 

 its sword-like teeth cuts the flesh away, and soon the mighty 



