357 



which the owner of it says, he obtained of a Mexican, who had pur- 

 chased it of a savage of the West of the Missouri, who had found it 

 with a tooth in a cave. But it being so fresh, appearing also to have 

 been cut off with a sharp instrument, and so perfectly resembling that 

 of an elephant, M. Cuvier is induced to suspect some fraud on the part of 

 the Mexican. 



These astonishing remains have, as might be expected, been strictly 

 examined by Cuvier. In the 46th number of the Annals of the Museum 

 of Natural History, this illustrious anatomist has not only given a com- 

 pendious account of the preceding discoveries which had been made 

 respecting this animal, but has also entered into an anatomical exami- 

 nation of the several parts which have been found. 



The grinders, he observes, are formed of two substances only; an in- 

 ternal bony substance, and a thick coat of enamel. The form of their 

 crown is in general rectangular, the hinder ones being rather narrowest 

 behind. The crown is divided, by widely spreading grooves, into a cer- 

 tain number of transverse risings, each of which is divided, in the con- 

 trary direction, into two large obtuse and somewhat quadrangular and 

 pyramidical points, the whole crown, when not worn, being beset with 

 large points, disposed in pairs. In consequence of several of these teeth 

 being much worn down, not only to the base of the pyramids, but eveu 

 so low as only to leave one square surface edged with enamel, it has 

 been inferred that they have been employed in the trituration of vege- 

 table substances. The roots of these teeth being formed after the crown, 

 they are not found complete until the crown has begun to be a little 

 worn. 



M. Cuvier particularizes three sorts of these grinders : nearly square, 

 with three pair of points, generally much worn ; rectangular, with eight 

 points, which are less worn ; and others still longer, with five pair of 

 points and a single smaller one, which are seldom worn in the least. 

 These appearances agree with their situations ; those with three points 

 being the foremost, and appearing the first ; whilst those with ten are the 

 hindmost, and appear the last. 



