. III. DIST. CHAR. Mode. 43 

 the living bodies, f except in the loss or privation of 



tered, is a circumstance truly wonderful. Pallas assures us, that 

 there is not a river of considerable size in all the north of Asia, 

 from the Tanais, which runs into the Black Sea, to the Anadyr, 

 which falls into the gulf of Kamtchatka, in the sides and bottoms 

 of which bones of elephants and other large animals have not been 

 found. This is especially the case where the rivers run in plains 

 through gravel, sand, clay, &c. ; among the mountains, ihe bones 

 are rarely discovered." Playf. p. 458. 



The most remarkable conservatum, however, that Siberia has 

 yet produced, is that of the carcase of a rhinoceros, dug from the 

 tanks of the river Wilui. The skeleton when found was covered 

 with the hide ; and in some parts considerable portions of the mus- 

 cles and tendons still remained attached to the bones ! This, un- 

 doubtedly, is to be considered as an example of conservation under 

 simple privation < IH. 1. 2.) effected by mere inclusion in mineral 

 matter; for it appears, that neither an absolute chemical change, 

 nor a penetration of mineral particles had taken place to prevent 

 the decay of the fleshy parts, the application of heat being 

 found necessary for that purpose, after the body had been exposed 

 sometime to the action of the open air (v. Pallas Nov. Comment. 

 Petrop. T. XVII. p. 386). 



t The extraneous bodies inclosed in amber generally -exhibit 

 every appearance of recent subjects. They are mostly insects of 

 the smaller kinds, as ants, two-winged flies (diptera) small moths, 

 &c. It has been remarked, that these are seldom specifically the 

 came, as the insects of the country, in which the amber is disco- 

 vered small vegetable -bodies are also feund in this substance; 

 but more rarely than those just mentioned. 



Amber has been 'found in almost every country in Europe; but 

 is most common in Prussia, where it occurs in loose detached mas- 

 ses, on the shores of the Baltic. It is sometimes found imbedded 

 also; generally at small depths, in alluvial tracts of sand, gravel, 

 clay, &c. and is frequently accompanied by fossil wood. 



