Notices of Big-bone Lick. 163 



raajority consist of those discovered at Big-bone Lick, by General 

 Clarke. 



The western museum of Cincinnati, and Lclton's museum in 

 the same city, contain many reUcs of the mastodon, nearly all 

 ' from Big-bone lick. Together there are not less than one hun- 

 dred pieces, more than half being grinders, of three and more 

 pairs of points. There is, however, in the latter museum, a lower 

 jaw, which is remarkable for having both branches tolerably 

 complete, though the teeth are wanting. 



My researches at Big-bone Lick, procured me about seventy 

 pieces, of which the most considerable were as follows : 



Two large, and numerous small fragments of tusks, presumed 



of mastodon. 

 A small left lower jaw, with one molar tooth, of four points ; 

 being the anterior milk molar. This is from a very young 

 individual, probably the youngest yet discovered, the first 

 milk molar being scarcely at all worn.* 1 obtained likewise 

 several other interesting portions, including teeth and bones, 

 apparently all belonging to this small head. 

 Four other large portions of lower jaws, all different, but with- 

 out teeth. 

 Thirty tolerably perfect separate molar teeth, besides large 



fragments of others.! 

 Seven vertebrae, mutilated, and several portions of ribs. 

 Two portions of scapulae. 



* The Tetracaulodon of the late justly lamented Dr. Goilman, appears to me, after 

 acareful examination of his specimen, to be another young mdividual, also ot the com- 

 mon mastodon, but older than mine, the anterior milk molars havmg begun to tall, 

 after having been used until they were worn down. I have stated my reasons lor this 

 epinion, in a paper on the dentary system of the mastodon, which I read to the l^yceum 

 of Natural History, in April, 1830. It appears, however, from recent observations, 

 that the lower tusks, which I suppose all of the species to have possessed in their 

 youth, were in some instances permanent during the advanced age ol the animal. But 

 whether this was a sexual characteristic, or merely an individual case ot anomaly, ot 

 which I have seen other curious examples, I cannot recognize more than one spenes 

 of mastodon, among the great quantity of their remains found in Vie United btates, 

 ■which have come under my observation, those just alluded to, included. 



We are happy to find that Mr. Cooper, who has given this subject so careful an ex- 

 amination, and who has had such rare opportunities of studying the dentition ot these 

 animals, agrees with us so thoroughly in the opinion we have always expressed on 

 this subject. Vide Monthly American Journal of Geology, &c. Vol. 1. JNa .i, p^l'H. 



t Among these I include one similar to the tooth, also from Big-bone Lick, described 

 by Dr. Harian, as having belonged to an extinct species of tapir. That it is a young 

 mastoflon's tooth, is evident, I think, from the milk teeth still remaining m the head on 

 which the supposed genus tetracaulodon is founded, as well as from the small jaw 

 above described. 



