208 ANIMALS OF THE PAST 



The next mastodon to appear on the scene 

 was the so-called Missourium of Albert Koch, 

 which he constructed somewhat as he did the 

 Hydrarchus (see p. 61) of several individuals 

 pieced together, thus forming a skeleton that 

 was a monster in more ways than one. To 

 heighten the effect, the curved tusks were so 

 placed that they stood out at right angles to 

 the sides of the head, like the swords upon 

 the axles of ancient war chariots. Like Peale's 

 specimen this was exhibited in London, and 

 there it still remains, for, stripped of its super- 

 fluous bones, and remounted, it may now be 

 seen in the British Museum. 



Many a mastodon has come to light since 

 the time of Koch, for while it is commonly 

 supposed that remains of the animal are great 

 rarities, as a matter of fact they are quite 

 common, and it may safely be said that during 

 the seasons of ditching, draining, and well-dig- 

 ging not a week passes without one or more 

 mastodons bein'g unearthed. Not that these 

 are complete skeletons, very far from it, the 

 majority of finds are scattered teeth, crum- 

 bling tusks, or massive leg-bones, but still the 



