156 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1737- 



thick, or 1 lb. and 6 oz. weight; in some places not different from ivory, but 

 in others calcined like the common unicornu fossile. 



What Ysbrand Ides mentions of the mammoth's teeth and bones, is deserv- 

 ing of notice: as also the Journal of Laurens Lange's Journey to China, and 

 the remarks of Capt. John Bernard Muller, in his Present State of Russia. 

 These are the chief authors* who have treated of the mammoth's teeth and 

 bones, as a very remarkable and particular curiosity of Siberia. And what we 

 may select out of them, as matters of fact, are the following particulars. 



1. That those teeth and bones are found in Siberia, chiefly in the northern 

 parts, near the rivers Jenfzea, Trugau, Mongam-sea, Lena, &c. towards the 

 icy sea; at the time when the ice has broken the banks of those rivers, so that 

 part of the adjacent mountains fall down ; and that they are found in such 

 quantity as is sufficient for trade, and to make a monopoly for the Czar. 



2. That sometimes skeletons of this kind are found nearly complete. 



3. That those teeth and bones are not found always of the same size, but 

 sometimes very large; as dentes molares, or grinders, of 20 or 24 lb. weight, 

 and dentes exerti, two of which weighed 400 lb.; sometimes of a middle size, 

 as those abovementioned, and at other times still smaller. 



4. That of those teeth, viz. dentes exerti, some are used as ivory, to make 

 combs, boxes, &c. Capt. Muller says, that in every respect it resembles the 

 common ivory, being but a little more brittle, and easily turning yellow by 

 weather or heat. 



Out of these quoted remarks, joined to ocular inspection, Dr. Breyne thinks 

 he may advance three things. 



1 . That those mammoth's teeth and bones are truly natural teeth and bones, 

 belonging to very large living animals; because they have not only the external 

 figures and proportions, but also the internal structure analogous to natural teeth 

 and bones of animals. 



2. That those large animals have been elephants, as appears by the figure, 

 structure, and size of the teeth, which accurately agree with the grinders and 

 tusks of elephants, as represented by several writers. 



3. That those teeth and bones of elephants were brought thither by a 

 deluge, by waves and winds, and left behind after the waters returned into their 

 reservoirs, and were buried in the earth, even near the tops of high mountains. 

 And because we know nothing of any particular extraordinary deluge in those 

 countries, but of the universal deluge of Noah, it is more than probable, that 

 we ought to refer this strange phenomenon to the said deluge. 



It may be noticed, that such teeth and bones are also to be found in several 



* Add Gtnelin and Pallai. 



