MASTODON AND WOOLLY RHINOCEROS. 223 
An interesting find was that of Dr. Barton, a professor of the 
University of Pennsylvania. At a depth of six feet, and under 
a great bank of chalk, bones of the Mastodon were found 
sufficient to form a skeleton, and in the middle of the bones 
was seen a mass of vegetable matter enveloped in a kind of sac 
(which probably was the stomach of the animal). This matter 
was found to be composed of small leaves and branches, amongst 
which was recognised a species of rush yet common in Virginia. 
In North America, where the Mastodon survived into the period 
of primitive man, various strange legends exist that seem to refer 
to it. Traditions were rife among the Red Men concerning this 
giant form and its destruction. 
A French officer named Fabri informed M. Buffon, the 
naturalist, that the “ savages” (Indians) regarded the bones found 
in various parts of Canada and Louisiana as belonging to an animal 
which they named “ Father of the Ox.” The Shawnee Indians 
believed that with this enormous animal there existed men of 
proportionate development, and that the Great Being destroyed 
both with thunderbolts. Those of Virginia state that as a troop 
of these terrible animals were destroying the deer, bisons, and 
other animals created for the use of Indians, the Great Man slew 
them all with his thunder, except the Big Bull, who shook off the 
thunderbolts as they fell on him, till at last, being wounded in the 
side, he fled towards the great lakes, where he lies to this day. 
This is one of the songs which Fabri heard in Canada: 
‘When the great Manitou descended to the earth, in order to 
satisfy himself that the creatures he had created were happy, and 
he interrogated all the animals, the bison replied that he 
would be quite contented with his fate in the grassy meadows, 
where the grass reached his belly, if he were not also compelled 
to keep his eyes constantly turned towards the mountains to 
catch the first sight of the ‘ Father of the Ox,’ as he descended, 
with fury, to devour him and his companions.” Many other 
tribes repeat similar legends. 
