l68 AJhort Account of the Mammoth. 



lhell-fi{li, if, as we have many reafons to fuppofe, he was of 

 an amphibious nature : for this fpecies of food his teeth feem 

 admirably adapted. All animals of fimilar habits have fimi- 

 lar teeth : this animal has teeth imlike any other with which 

 we are acquainted : there is much rcafon, therefore, in fup- 

 pofing his food to have been difl'erent ; cfpecially when we 

 confider the thicknefs of enamel which covers the teeth, the 

 peculiar manner in which they are worn, and the fmall 

 opening for the throat. But, whether amphibious or not, in 

 the inverted pofition of the tufks he could have toni an ani- 

 mal to pieces held benealh his foot, and could have Itruck 

 down an animal of common fize, without having his fight 

 obllruded, as it certainly would have been in the other pofi- 

 tion. 



The tuflcs themfelvcs are compofed of two very diftinft 

 fubltances : the internal bony or ivory part, which we find 

 in the createlt ftale of decay; and a thick, diftinit coaling, 

 doubtlefs having undergone fome decay, yet at prefent abfo- 

 lut-ely heavier and harder than the frefheft ivory. No part of 

 the Ikeleton is petrified, but all in their prefent ftate of pre- 

 fervation from having been furrounded by a calcareous foil, 

 compoftd principally of decayed fliells, and covered with 

 water even in the dricft feafons. 



How long fince thefe animals have exifted, we Hiall per- 

 haps ever remain in ignorance; as no judgment can be 

 formed from the quantity of vegetable foil which has accu- 

 mulated over their bones. Certain we are, that they exilted 

 in creat abundance, from the number of their remains 

 which are found in America : we are likewife fure that thev 

 mnft have been deftroved by fome fudden and powerful 

 caufe ; and nothing appears more probable than one of thofe 

 deluii^es ox fudden irruptions of the fea, which have left their 

 traces in every part of the globe, and which are in amazing 

 abundance on the very fpot where thefe bones are found : 

 they confift of petrifaftions of fea produftions, fliells, corals, 

 &c. It is extremely probable that, whenever and by what- 

 ever means the extirpation of this tremendous race of animals 

 was efi'efted, the fame caufe muft have operated in the de- 

 Itruftion of all thofe inhabitants from whom we miaht have 

 received fome latisfadtory account of them. 



Tiimcnjions of the Skeleton, 



JTeicht over the (lioulders _ . » 



Ditto over the hips . . _ 



Length from the chin to the rump 



• From 



