152 THE GREAT MASTODON. 



less capacious belly ; that notwithstanding these 

 agreements, the peculiar structure of the grinders 

 would be sufficient to characterize it as a genus 

 different from the Elephant ; that it fed much in 

 the same manner as the Hippopotamus, or Wild 

 Boar, preferring the roots and other fleshy parts of 

 vegetables ; that this kind of nourishment would 

 lead it to se.ek the soft or marshy grounds ; but 

 that, nevertheless, it was not formed to swim and 

 live in the water like the Hippopotamus, but was 

 truly a land animal ; that the bones are now very 

 common in North America ; that they are there 

 better preserved, and fresher than the other fossil 

 bones, but there is not the least proof or authentic 

 information which could lead to the supposition, 

 that the animal now exists either in America or 

 elsewhere." 



The remains of other animals apparently resem- 

 bling the Mastodon, have been discovered in 

 Europe and South America; so that even this 

 form seems to have had its congeners in an ancient 

 world. 



The next animal to which we shall advert, now 

 lives in the waters of Africa ; it is 



