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Notice of Big Bone Lick. HI 



inference also seems warranted, that quadjupcds liavc never hcx^n 

 equal, either in number or variety, since that inundation, to what they 

 were previously to it. As maiiy of these bones are in a good slate of 

 preservation, we are led to conclude that the water has retired from 

 the valley of the Mississippi at a later period, than it has from the At- 

 lantic States : for although it is capable of demonstration, that dicsc 

 states have been inundated, yet the facts which constitute that de- 

 monstration, indicate also an earlier period. 



Tlie foregoing discussion relates to a part only of this valley ; for 

 the ground on the opposite side of the rivulet, is higher and presents 

 a different class of phenomena. There the bones lie at proiniscuous 

 depths, without any stratification. We must, therefore, suppose tliat 

 some other agent, than an inundation with its deposits, has contribu- 

 ted to the latter phenomena. 



It may excite surprise, that these bones, which have lain licre a 

 thousand years, and perhaps thousands of years^ should yet be in a 

 state of entire preservation. But when it is recollected, that the 

 earth here is strongly impregnated with salt, and when it is stated, that 

 many of these bones are now entirely petrified, that surprise will be 

 diminished. 



Only a small part of the earth w^hich contains these fossils, has yet 

 been dug over. For centuries to come, these enormous bones, which 

 have been the wonder of naturalists, will still be found. 



Capt. Phinnel, who keeps the boarding house at this watering 

 place, informed the writer, that he found within a space not more 

 than six feet square, at the depth of three feet, thirty two grinder- 

 teedi of the mastodon and elephant, one of which, he said, weighed 

 fourteen pounds. They were all at one depth, and were supposed 

 to have been collected in tliat spot, as they have never been found 



numerous in any other. 



In the possession of that gentleman, I saw a large bone, twenty 

 six inches in length, and weighing about sixteen pounds, entirely pet- 

 rified, which had never belonged to any of the mastodon or elephant 

 species, but to some animal now unknomi. It had been part of the 

 hg of a quadruped, between the knee and die pastern joints. It ic- 

 sembled in shape the bone of a hare, except being larger in pro- 

 portion to its length. The quadruped to which it belonged was eleven 

 feet high. 



