MASTODON AND WOOLLY RHINOCEROS. 223 



An interesting find was that of Dr. Barton, a professor of the 

 University of Pennsylvania. At a depth of six feet, and under 

 a great bank of chalk, bones of the Mastodon were found 

 sufficient to form a skeleton, and in the middle of the bones 

 was seen a mass of vegetable matter enveloped in a kind of sac 

 (which probably was the stomach of the animal). This matter 

 was found to be composed of small leaves and branches, amongst 

 which was recognised a species of rush yet common in Virginia. 

 In North America, where the Mastodon survived into the period 

 of primitive man, various strange legends exist that seem to refer 

 to it. Traditions were rife among the Red Men concerning this 

 giant form and its destruction. 



A French officer named Fabri informed M. Buffon, the 

 naturalist, that the " savages " (Indians) regarded the bones found 

 in various parts of Canada and Louisiana as belonging to an animal 

 which they named " Father of the Ox." The Shawnee Indians 

 believed that with this enormous animal there existed men of 

 proportionate development, and that the Great Being destroyed 

 both with thunderbolts. Those of Virginia state that as a troop 

 of these terrible animals were destroying the deer, bisons, and 

 other animals created for the use of Indians, the Great Man slew 

 them all with his thunder, except the Big Bull, who shook off the 

 thunderbolts as they fell on him, till at last, being wounded in the 

 side, he fled towards the great lakes, where he lies to this day. 



This is one of the songs which Fabri heard in Canada : 

 " When the great Manitou descended to the earth, in order to 

 satisfy himself that the creatures he had created were happy, and 

 he interrogated all the animals, the bison replied that he 

 would be quite contented with his fate in the grassy meadows, 

 where the grass reached his belly, if he were not also compelled 

 to keep his eyes constantly turned towards the mountains to 

 catch the first sight of the ' Father of the Ox,' as he descended, 

 with fury, to devour him and his companions." Many other 

 tribes repeat similar legends. 



