616 FEOZEN MAMMOTH IN SIBEKIA. 



After dinner I began clearing the ice away from the right side. Near 

 the outside of the right fore leg the ice was brownish in color, with 

 bubbles, and 23 centimeters tliick, and 27 centimeters thick over the 

 sole of the right fore foot, which also faced the south, as did the left 

 hind leg. Beneath both legs there was a laj^er of ice 3 centimeters 

 thick, which, after the final loosening of the animal, was found to 

 extend beneath the entire body. From the right hind leg northward, 

 in the direction of the highland, the ice ran thicker, being at first 54 

 centimeters, while 86 centimeters from the sole it was 71 centimeters 

 thick; then came the earth layer. The ice layer, 71 centimeters at its 

 thickest part, extends to the middle of the right side of the abdomen, 

 where it becomes 10 centimeters thick. 



A very interesting discover}^ was made at a distance of 13 centime- 

 ters from the upper edge of the sole of the right hind foot, namely, 

 the very hairy end of the tail, which was subsequently thawed out and 

 examined. (See September 21.) 



8epteinl>ei' 15. — The snow has completely disappeared off the cliff. 

 I stopped further excavation, however, in order to resume it when 

 my companions, who were left behind, shall arrive and Mr. Sevas- 

 tianofl' can make the geological surve3\ In order to be able to dis- 

 member the mammoth after severe cold weather has set in, 1 am dis- 

 posed to build over the animal a structure that can be heated, and for 

 this purpose I will order, one of these days, the cutting and planing 

 of timber. Meanwhile I covered the animal with tarpaulin to protect 

 it from possible snowing under. 



Sejdemher 16. — During clear weather I made a trip to the top of 

 the hill eastward of here and brought from there some specimens of 

 mountain flora. I append a sketch of the Berezovka as seen from 

 there. 



September 17. — The cliff region extends along the loop made by the 

 Berezovka and along the deep channel of this river a half mile farther 

 south, where it graduall}' becomes lower. During spring high tide 

 masses of earth are detached from the cliff". 



Further geological research will determine how the cliff region was 

 formed, and j'et, although I am not a geologist, I regard it my duty to 

 here express my personal views. According to my opinion, the entire 

 cliff' region rests upon a glacier, which was disintegrating and in which 

 there were deep crevices. The water that flowed down from the 

 •'taiga,"" or from the neighboring hills, mixed with earth, stones, and 

 pieces of wood, gradually filled these crevices. The whole was later 

 covered with a layer of soil, upon which a rich flora doubtless devel- 

 oped that served as excellent food for mammoths and other animals. 

 Whether this flora was identical with the present flora can be deter- 

 mined only when the food fragments found in the mouth and stomath 

 of the manunoth shall have been examined and compared wnth the 



