Fossil remains of a Mastodon found in Tennessee. 565 



most economical mode of working them, in the most advantage- 

 ous manner : with this view, he has established corresponden 

 cies with practical miners and metallurgists, and intends pub- 

 lishing in his journal memoirs and illustrations connected with 

 practical mining. 



In relation to the gold mines of the United States, he has ac- 

 quired a great mass of information by his correspondents and by 

 personal investigation, and it is his intention to add greatly to 

 it, by an excursion to the gold districts during the approaching 

 autumn. 



In all those cases where his subscribers shall not have signified 

 their intention to withdraw their names, the work will be again 

 forwarded to them when it is resumed. 



G. W. Featherstonhaugh. 



FOSSIL REMAINS OF A MASTODON, FOUND IN TENNESSEE. 



Extract of a letter from Lt. Col. Lons, U. S. E., to the Editor. 



Blountsville, Tennessee, Aug. 3, 1832. 

 I VISITED a locality yesterday, on my road from Knoxville 

 to this place, in company with J. S. Gaines, Esq., where portions 

 of the skeletons of a Mastodon have lately been found. It is a 

 marshy tract of a few acres, at the base, and on the south side 

 of Chestnut or Eden's ridge, (Walker's mountain,) surrounded 

 by hills of a considerable height. The rocks in the vicinity, 

 as well as in the marsh, are limestone, in stratified beds, highly 

 inclined and dipping to the S. S. E. The proprietor of the 

 ground, a Mr. Bridewell, informed me that the beds below the 

 marsh are horizontal limestone. The skeleton was found by him 

 in digging for tan-vats, of the depth of about three feet below 

 the surface. The bones soon crumbled and fell to pieces on 

 exposure to the atmosphere, which was also the case with a 

 very large tusk. The diameter of the tusk at the largest end 

 was ten inches : the circumference, at the distance of four feet 

 from the butt end, was twenty-three inches : the length of the 

 cavity occupied by the tusk, or that portion of it which was 

 dug out, was by measure eight feet. A piece of the smaller 

 end of the tusk was left in the ground, and was not included in 

 the measurement just mentioned. 



