BARON CUVIER. 91 



than that quadruped, its limbs thicker, its belly 

 of less volume ; but, notwithstanding the little 

 importance of these differences, the peculiar 

 structure of its grinders suffices to establish it as 

 a separate genus. It was nourished nearly in 

 the same manner as the hippopotamus and wild 

 boar, but it did not occasionally live in the 

 water, like the former. It preferred roots, and 

 the fleshy parts of vegetables, which species of 

 food led it to seek an open or marshy country." 

 The bones of the Mastodon Angustidens are 

 much more common in North America than 

 elsewhere, and, perhaps, those of the great mas- 

 todon exclusively belong to that country. They 

 are better preserved and fresher than any other 

 known fossils, and, nevertheless, there is not the 

 least authentic testimony calculated to make us 

 believe, that there is still in America, or else- 

 where, any living individual. Therefore, the 

 accounts published, from time to time, in the 

 American papers, concerning those that have 

 been met with wandering through the vast fo- 

 rests, or over the immense plains of this con- 

 tinent, have never been confirmed, and may be 

 consequently regarded as mere fables. 



After having acquired vast experience in the 

 connection of organised beings wdth the soils in 



