238 SPARKS FROM A GEOLOGIST'S HAMMER. 



sculptor proceeded to model a colossal figure from the 

 known proportions of the normal one. The living ele- 

 phants from different regions, and of different varieties, 

 ages and sexes, have long been known to comparative 

 anatomists. There is little variation among them in the 

 ratio of a given bone to the whole length or height of 

 the animal. Now, as the mammoth was an elephant, the 

 known ratio of thigh-bone to the animal would enable 

 the anatomist to construct the animal from the bone, 

 from a single bone. But in the case of the mammoth, 

 every bone of the skeleton had somewhere been discov- 

 ered. With such knowledge the Stuttgart specimen was 

 reconstructed. The left tusk, with all its enormous 

 magnitude, was literally moulded over a real tusk, and 

 the right is simply made to correspond. Dr. Fraas, in 

 writing on this subject, after saying he felt " homesick " 

 for another sight of the old Colossus, the erection of 

 which he had superintended, personally guarantees the 

 accuracy of the reproduction as to size and proportions, 

 and states that Herr Martin took accurate measures for 

 every part from original bones. He admits, however, 

 that some doubt may exist as to the color of the hair, 

 and its length upon the tail and the throat of the animal. 

 The very conditions of the case preclude absolute certainty 

 here. But in respect to these points, as in the form and 

 pose of the creature, the reconstructor has been guided 

 by actual specimens, including a nearly complete skeleton 

 preserved in the Imperial Museum at St. Petersburg, to 

 which I shall presently refer. 



The framework of the restoration was of timber. Over 

 this the contour of the body was skillfully shaped, and the 

 whole was covered by a skin. To this was applied an 



