L 296 J 



Changes of Timber and Plants, Races of Ainnials ex- 

 tinct. By lucliard Peters, 



Read April 12th, 1808. 



In a con\'ersation with Mr. Rembratidt Peale, who 

 adds to talents promising to render him greatly eminent 

 as a portrait painter, a knowledge of natur^il history, in 

 some of its most curious branches, the subject of changes 

 of timber was mentioned. He informed me of the cir- 

 cumsftances attending their search for the bones of the 

 mammoth^ in Orange and Ulster counties, in the state of 

 New York, in 1801. He was so kind as to gratify me, 

 by presenting to me two pamphlets; accompanied by a 

 letter, which I send for the perusal of the society. I 

 transcribe the passage he alludes to, relating to the 

 timber. I have been highly entertained and instructed 

 by the perusal of these pamphlets ; which I have now 

 for the first time read. They are worthy the attention 

 of every person, v.iio has a desire to know and admire 

 the wonders and stupendous works of nature. I find 

 that great bodies of marie (the deposits of Avaters) exist 

 in the country wherein the mammoth bones were discov- 

 ered. The exploration and difficulties attending it, as 

 well as the ingenuity and perseverance of his father and 

 himself in procuring the bones, are very amusively dis- 

 played ; and do both of them gi'cat lionour. I perceive 

 that some of the mammoth bones gave the first stimulus 

 to Mr. Peale the elder, to prosecute his succesful en^ 

 deavours at establishing a museum of natural curiosities; 

 which has few rivals in any part of the world. It is in 



