On Elephantine Bones. 33 



Asia, from whence I have no doubt, that many of the 

 animals of America have been derived. 



I am far, however, from supposing, that Asia has been 

 the parental country of all the animals that have been 

 found in the two continents and islands of the New- 

 World*. But I have observed, and it is a circumstance 

 much in favour of the hypothesis which considers Asia 

 as the fountain from whence have proceeded many of 

 the American animals, that where the same species of 

 quadruped is common to these two portions of the earth, 

 they are generally more common in the western than in 

 the eastern districts of America. This rule is, perhaps, 

 liable to some exceptions : but this is chiefly the case 

 when the quadruped is found in Europe, as well as in 

 Asia and America. Thus, I cannot assert, that the 

 Beaver (Castor Fiber) is more common in the western 

 than it is in the eastern parts of North- America. But, 

 then, the Beaver, it will be recollected, is one of those 

 quadrupeds which are common to Asia, to Europe, and 

 to America. 



Does notthis fortunate Virginia discovery give uspretty 

 good reason to believe, that at some future, and perhaps 

 not distant, period, the labours of workmen, intent upon 

 very different objects, will exhibit to us the Mammoth 

 in a state not less perfect than that in which Pallas had 

 an opportunity of contemplating the Rhinoceros, near 

 the banks of the river Willioni, in the north of Asia ? 

 Let us cease, then, to deplore the inherent imperfections 



* See my New Views of the Origin of the Tribes and Nations 

 of America. Preliminary Discourse, pages ci, cii, ciii. 

 SUPPL. E 



