JS'otices of Big-hone Lick. 165 



either of these animals.* The following are the principal 

 dimensions.f 



Feet. In. 



From the occiput to the end of the alveolar, 

 from which a part is broken off, 



Breadth over the orbits, ..... 



Girth lengthwise, • 



Girth at the occiput, 



Girth of the two alveoles of tusks at their origin, 



From the outside of the right anterior molar, to 

 the outside of the left, 



From the outside of the right posterior, to the left, 



One tusk was found fixed in the socket, and the fellow lying 

 near it. They are quite round, slender, and very uniform 

 in diameter throughout, as far as they remain, the ends of 

 both being broken off The anterior molars being gone, 

 and the posterior, which have four pairs of points, being 

 worn by use, show that the animal v^'as quite adult ; though 

 from its small size, and the slenderness of the tusks, it was 

 probably a female. The curve of the tusks forms nearly a 

 semicircle. The longer one measures six feet six inches, 

 with a diameter of five inches. 



A large single tusk, which, when first found, was quite entire, 

 though brittle from decay. It is very round, tapers gradu- 

 ally to the point, measures in length nine feet two inches, 

 and in circun^fcrcnce at the root, twenty-three and a half 

 inches. It is remarkable for its slightly sigmoid curve. 



Eighteen pieces of tusks, from one and a half, to five feet long. 

 These furnish some curious examples of dentition^ from va- 

 rious causes. Some appear to have been worn at the point by 

 use, during the life time of the animal, and still retain a high 

 polish. One or two are laterally abraded, in such a manner 

 as to present a perfect section. 



A left upper jaw, with part of the socket of a tusk and one 

 grinder. 



* This " flatness of tho craniiim" was first observed by Messrs. Mitchill and Town- 

 Bend. See their account of the mastodon found at Chester, May 1817, in Mitchill's 

 Cuvier, App. p. 379. 



t Owini;; to the artificial state in which this head is at present exhibited, it is no 

 longer possible to trace the sutures, or describe the separate bones. Tlie general 

 form is nearly all that can be safely described. For the same reason, no figure is now 

 given. 



