MAMMOTH, OB FOSSIL ELEPHANT. 511 



species differing more from the Indian, than the ass from 

 the horse, and the jackal and isatis from the wolf and 

 fox. It is not known what had been the size of its ears, 

 or the colour of its skin ; but it is certain that, at least, 

 some individuals bore two sorts of hair, namely, a red, 

 coarse, tufted wool, and stiff black hairs, which, upon 

 the neck and along the dorsal spine, became long enough 

 to form a sort of mane. Thus, not only is there nothing 

 impossible in its having been able to support a climate 

 which would destroy the Indian species, but it is even 

 probable that it was so constituted as to prefer cold cli- 

 mates. Its bones are generally found in the alluvial 

 and superficial strata of the earth, and most commonly 

 in the deposits which fill up the bottom of valleys, or 

 which border the beds of rivers. They scarcely ever oc- 

 cur by themselves, but are confusedly mingled with 

 bones of other quadrupeds of known genera, such as 

 rhinoceroses, oxen, antelopes, horses, and frequently 

 with remains of marine animals, particularly conchi- 

 ferous species, some of which have even been found 

 adhering to them. The positive testimony of Pallas, 

 Fortis, and many others, does not allow us to doubt that 

 this latter circumstance has frequently taken place, al- 

 though it is not always observed. We ourselves have at 

 this moment under our eyes a portion of a jaw covered 

 with millepores and small oysters. 



The strata which cover the bones of elephants are 

 not of very great thickness, and they are scarcely ever 

 of a rocky nature. They are seldom petrified, and 

 there are only one or two cases recorded in which they 

 were found imbedded in a shelly or other rock. Fre- 

 quently they are simply accompanied with our common 



