* 
256 Fossil Bones found in Vermont. 
Art. XXVIII.—An account of some Fossil Bones found in Ver- 
mont, in making excavations for the Rutland and ile 
Railroad ; by Zavock 'THompson. 
In addition to the benefits derived directly from sre as in 
the business of travel and sige ne the cause of scie 
and particularly the science of geology is deriving saireeltyr no 
small advantage from their consteeebin The deep cuttings 
which these works often require, expose the various strata o 
rocks where they have not been affected by the weather for the 
examination of the geologist, and the vast excavations in stratified 
sand and clay, and in the confused beds of drift materials; exhibit 
not only the relations of these to each other, but frequently dis- 
close organic remains which shed new light upon the early his- 
tory of our eart 
Only about four years have elapsed since the construction of 
railroads was commenced in Vermont, and at this time, nearly 
three hundred miles of railroad are so far completed as to be in 
use within the state; and, while the excavations for these roads 
have conduced to a more accurate eee of the position, hy 
and lithological character of the rock formations, they hav 
the same time very mhexpectedly disclosed organic renstial 
which are of much scientific interest and importance. In grading 
the line of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, portions of the 
skeletons of two large animals, both belonging to the class mam- 
malia, and to families which no longer exist here in a living state, 
were found deeply buried in the earth, and - bones were for 
the most part in a very good state of preservatio 
Fossil Elephant.—The Rutland and Burlington Railroad passes 
over the range of Green Mountains in the township of Mount 
Holly, at an elevation of 1360 feet above the level of the sea. 
In the notch through which the railroad passes, and very near 
the dividing point between the waters which flow westward into 
was resting upon Sava at the bottom of the muck, which was 
there about nine feet deep. It was in a very good state of pres- 
ervation, weighed eight pounds, and measured about eight inches 
tran nsversely across the crown. It was pronounced by spies 
Agassiz to be a grinder of an extinct species of elephan 
sequently, as the excavation was continued, the two Gaks and 
several of the bones of this elephaht were found, and it is not 
improbable that the ne parts of the skeleton are still buried 
beneath the same muck- 
