55 



latter subject to the following memoir ; and now 

 heo; to recall vour attention to what remains to 

 be said on tlie wonderful subject of our re- 

 cent speculations. That such an animal did 

 exist in this country and in considerable num- 

 bers is certain. The benevolent persuasion, 

 that no link in the chain of creation will ever 

 be suffered to perislv has induced certain au- 

 thors of distinguished merit, to provide a re- 

 sidence for the mammoth in the remote regions 

 of the north. Some of the North American 

 Indians also believe in the now-existence of this 

 animal, and place him far beyond the Lakes. 

 But their belief rests on mere tradition: for 

 none of them will venture to declare they have 

 seen the aniinal themselves, or that their in- 

 formation concerning liim is dravvn from any 

 person who has seen him. The truth is, their 

 tradition does not relate to the mammoth, 

 though it very forcibly applies to the carnivo- 

 rous incognitum to which I have so often rever- 

 ted, and with which you will shortly become 

 acquainted. There is considerable evidence, 

 that the behemoth, or mammoth (which I shall 

 in future call it, in compliance with custom) 

 has not been in existence in America for 

 several hundred years. There is no entire ske- 



