92 PHILOSOrHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



expired *. This important conclusion, which has since 

 been extended to other fossil species, received abundant con- 

 firmation, by the fortunate discovery, in 1799, of an entire 

 carcase of this northern elephant, preserved in the ice, at the 

 mouth of the Lena, on its entrance into the Frozen Ocean. 

 The, animal had been in good condition at its death, and its 

 flesh was in such perfect preservation, that the Takutski, 

 in the neighbourhood, cut off pieces to feed their dogs with ; 

 and the white bears, Avolves, wolverines, and foxes, made 

 likewise an agreeable repast. But the most interesting cir- 

 cumstance connected with this individual, was its covering 

 of hair. The elephant, and indeed all tropical animals, as 

 formerly stated, are thinly covered with short hair. This 

 Siberian animal, on the other hand, was thickly covered with 

 long hair. Upwards of thirty-six pounds of the hair were 

 collected : the greater part of which the bears had trod into 

 the ground, while devouring the flesh. Much of the ori- 

 ginal quantity, therefore, was lost. This quantity of hair 

 indicated not a native of a tropical climate, but an inhabi- 



• Ekphantorum Africse, Indias, et Cylanensium, diversitatem quandam 

 notant, naturae historici ; Cylanenses reliquis omnibus magnitudine et inge- 

 nio praecellere prjedicantes. Esse igitur potuit elephantorum species in ipso 

 septentrione, reliquis omnibus praecellens frigoris patentia, et a meridionali- 

 bus elephantis non magis diversa quam Lappones aut Hurones diversi esse so- 

 lent a Nigritis et Malabariae incolis. Sed certe quid pronunciare non ausim. 

 3ufficit, omnium reliquarum hypothesium insufficientiam, ndturam situs et 

 ossium ipsorum, tandem etiam exempla estirpatarum speciemm persuadere, 

 quammaxiiTie probabile quadam ratione, belluas quarum ossa in septentrione 

 hinc inde latent, non esse peregrinas, non alioadvectas sed indigenas in illis 

 terris, ipsis olim natalibus, vixisse, generasse, quamvis hodie non supersint." 

 Dissertatio epistotaris de Ossibiis et Dentibvs Elephantum^ aliarum Sellua- 

 rum ill America Septentrionati, aliifque Boiealibus Ilegionibus obviis ; qua 

 indigcnarum Bclluarum esse oatendititr. Auctore It. E. Raspe. — Phil. Trans. 

 J7«9, p. 136. 



