414 NATURAL HISTORY. 



experiments, that copper is really dissolved after long boiling, so much 

 doubt is thrown on these results as to call for further and more accu- 

 rate investigation. 



H. C. 



SCIENTIPIC AND LITEEAEY NOTES. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE EXTINCT AMEEICAN HOKSE. 



At a recent meeting of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Prof. 

 Holme, exhibited a collection of Fossils from the post-pliocene of South Carolina, 

 accompanied with some highly interesting remarks and references. From the latter 

 we select the following, especially for its bearing on the former existence of the 

 horse on this continent, contemporaneously with the Mastodon and others of the 

 later extinct fauna of prehistoric times: — 



" The collections contain remains of the horse, ox, sheep, hog and dog, which I 

 feel strongly persuaded, with the exception of many of those of the first mention- 

 ed animal, are of recent date, and have become mingled with the true fossils of 

 the post-pliocene and eocene formations, where these have been exposed on the 

 banks of the Ashley River and its tributaries. In regard to the remains of the 

 horse, from the facts stated in the account given of them in the succeeding pages, 

 I think it will be conceded that this animal inhabited the United States during the 

 post-pliocene period, contemporarily with the mastodon, megalonyx, and the great 

 broad fronted bison. 



" Many of the mammallian remains are of recent animals, or at least are undis- 

 tinguishable from the corresponding parts of the latter; and if they are not 

 accidental occupants of the post-phocene deposit, are highly interesting, as indicat- 

 ing their contemporaneous existence with many species and genera now extinct. 



"It appears to be quite well authenticated that the horse, which is now so 

 extensively distributed, both in a wild and domestic condition, throughout North 

 and South America, did not inhabit these continents at the time of their discovery 

 by Europeans. With this fact in view, in conjunction with the circumstance that 

 animal remains of late periods may become accidental occupants of earlier geolo- 

 gical formations ; we should require strong evidence to be advanced before it is 

 admitted that the horse belonged to an ancient fauna of the western world. At 

 the present time the evidence appears to be sufficiently ample to justify the latter 

 conclusion, and it is further sustained by the discovery, in the same part of the 

 world, of the remains of two species of the closely allied genus Hipparion. 



" Remains of the horse, discovered in Brazil, Buenos- Ayres, Chile, have been 

 indicated by Dr. Lund, Prof. Owen, M. Weddell and M. Gervais. These remains 

 exhibit no well marked characters distinguishing them from corresponding portions 

 of the skeleton of the recent horse, and from a comparison of the figures and 



