AMERICAN MASTODON. 205 



this opinion was confirmed upon removing the pelvis, underneath 

 which, in the direction of the last of the intestines, was a train of 

 the same material about three feet in length and four inches in dia- 

 meter. This was composed almost entirely of the twigs, some of 

 them not even crushed, and retaining still the form and structure of 

 the tree from which they were torn. 



This is by no means a solitary instance of the discovery of this 

 matter. The same has been found in connection with other skele- 

 tons. In Godman's Natural History, under the article Mastodon, is 

 recorded an instance of the same kind, and the species of plant found 

 was detected. He thus quotes from a letter of Dr. Barton : " Very 

 lately, in digging a well near a saltlick in the county of Wythe in 

 Virginia, after penetrating about five feet below the surface of the 

 soil, the workmen struck upon the stomach of one of those huge 

 animals best known in the United States by the name of Mammoth. 

 The contents of the viscus were carefully examined, and were found 

 to be in a state of perfect preservation. They consisted of half 

 masticated reeds (a species of Arundo or Arundinaria, still common 

 in Virginia and other parts of the United States), of twigs of trees, 

 and of grass or leaves." 



A good deal of doubt existed at the time and afterwards, as to the 

 character of the substance ; but in the case we have now before us, 

 there can be no doubt. The appearance of the matter, and the pe- 

 culiar position in which it was found, are unquestionable evidence 

 of its being what it was supposed to be, the food which the animal 

 had eaten. 



History of the animal. As far as is known at present, the whole 

 face of mastodons is extinct. There is no evidence of their existence 

 t this day. But the numerous remains of them found in this coun- 

 y, indicate that they have at some period lived in great numbers 

 on this continent. At what time this was, we shall consider here- 

 after. Their range, however, does not appear to have extended over 

 'the whole of North America, but to have been confined mostly to 

 the rich alluvial vallies. Portions of two skeletons only have been 

 found north of Orange county in the State of New-York. East of 

 the Hudson river, portions of two have been discovered. Orange 

 county, however, seems to have been the northern limit of their 

 range, and the Hudson river the eastern boundary. Passing then 

 south through New-Jersey, and thence westward through all the 



