FOSSILS OF THE GEAVEL SERIES: THE MASTODOK 



25° 





, 



relationship of the species : a I think it probable, without being positive in 

 the matter, that the mastodon remains above described [those discovered by 

 Dr. Yates] which have been referred to species under the names of Mastodon 

 obscuriis and M. Shcpardi, including those from New Mexico, belong to one 

 and the same species. This, from the form of the molar teeth, the constitu- 

 tion of the upper tusks, and the prolonged symphysis of the lower jaw, was 

 clearly a near relation of the Mastodon angustidnis of Europe." 



The fossil remains of M. Aniericanas are widely scattered over the State, as 

 already mentioned, and appear to be almost as common on the west side of 

 the Great Valley as on the east, although there seems to have been no one 

 locality discovered as yet in the Coast Ranges where such a quantity of bones 

 were heaped together as were found at and near Gold Springs, a little west 

 of Sonora. It would be natural to expect, however, that the finds would be 



other things being equal — where there was the greatest 

 activity in making artificial excavations. The seeming relative abundance 

 of fossil remains in the mining region may be simply due to the feet that 

 the soil and gravel have there been so thoroughly worked over with pick and 

 shovel. 



more numerous 



The geological range of the mastodon seems — so far as present evidence 

 goes — to have been greater than that of any of the extinct mammals found 

 in California. While far more abundant in the gravels which are not cov- 

 ered by volcanic deposits, and which therefore, as already shown, may be of 

 somewhat uncertain age, they have also been found in deposits which are 

 covered by the basalt. In the ordinary gravels, not so covered, the mastodon 

 has been found at all depths, from a few feet up to a hundred or more. 

 There seems also to be abundant evidence that the remains of this animal 

 have been met with in the excavations under the Tuolumne Table Mountain. 

 A tooth of M. Americanus was also found at a depth of forty-eight feet beneath 

 the surface, at Douglass Flat, according to Mr. A. Jaquith, a careful and 

 trustworthy observer. This tooth, however, did not appear as thoroughly 

 fossilized as the rhinoceros jaw from the same locality, which was said to 

 have come from a great depth in the gravel, there in places probably over 

 200 feet in thickness. The weight of the evidence, thus far collected in Cali- 

 fornia,, is certainly in favor of the mastodon's having been more persistent 

 than any other of the animals of the gravel period. But, as more will have 

 to be said in regard to the occurrence of this animal in connection with the 

 discovery of human remains and works of art in the same association, 





