Skeleton of the Mastodon. 147 



the skeleton seemed to stand, so that though the upper side of 

 the foot was covered by the black earth, the sole rested imme- 

 diately upon the sand. We found all the feet placed thus, the 

 surface of the sandy stratum being apparently quite level. 



This sand formation resembled, in all respects, that which 

 we had before observed lying next above the marly strata ; 

 into which, in numerous places in the adjacent county, deep 

 excavations have been made, in order to obtain the marl for 

 agricultural purposes. If this conjecture be right, we should 

 have the following succession of strata. 



1. The black earth, containing the remains of the great 

 Mastodon. About eight feet thick. 



2. Silicious sand with rolled pebbles. Thickness unequal, 

 but generally greater than that of the black earth. 



3. Marl formation, almost exclusively composed of the de- 

 bris of testaceous animals. These appear to have been prin- 

 cipally bivalve shells, though a few univalves are sometimes 

 found. This formation appears to vary in thickness at dif- 

 ferent places from ten to thirty feet. Perhaps it should be 

 considered as composed of several strata, characterized by differ- 

 ent species or genera of shells. Thus we observed one stratum 

 wholly composed of a species of ostrea, which was constantly 

 elevated several feet higher than another which contained only 

 the shells of a different species A fossil elephant's tooth is 

 likewise stated to have been found in a marl pit in this 

 county.* 



We were not able to determine the character of the stra- 

 tum underlying the marl. 



* Appendix to Cuvier's Theory of the Earth, N. Y. Ed. 



