370 Collection of Fossil Bones. 



Art. XXII. — Report^ of Messrs. Cooper, J. A. Smith, and De 



Kay, to the Lyceum of JYatural History, on a collection of Fossil 



bones, disinterred at Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, in September, 



1830, and recently brought to JYew York. 



■ , Read May 30, 1831. 



The Committee beg leave respectfully to report, that these bones 

 having been landed only within a few days, sufficient time has not 

 been afforded them for the accurate determination of every imperfect 

 or mutilated fragment. The greater part, however, belonging to 

 well known animals, were immediately recognized, and it is not be- 

 lieved that any thing of much importance will be hereafter observed. 

 They therefore submit, this evening, a general account of this col- 

 lection, reserving for a future occasion such further particulars as may 

 be deemed of sufficient interest. 



The remains of the Great Mastodon compose more than one half 

 the entire quantity of which this collection consists. Among them is 

 a head, which, though not entire, is in better preservation than any 

 of this animal heretofore discovered. It enables us to form a better 

 idea of the figure of this important part, than could hitherto be obtain- 

 ed. It is found to have the cranium much depressed, in which it devi- 

 ates remarkably from the Elephant. Both the tusks are preserved, 

 one having been found still in the socket, and the other lying at a 

 short distance off. 



Of other large tusks, there are besides, five that measure from six 

 and a half to twelve feet in length, and many more large fragments 

 of others. 



Six portions of upper jaws, all containing teeth. 



Fifteen portions of lower jaws, twelve of which contain from one 

 to three grinders each. 



Besides these, there are seventy three detached molar teeth of all 

 sizes, some of them as large as any yet discovered. 



Of the large bones of the anterior extremity, there are five scap- 

 ulae, seven humeri, three uln«, and one radius, more or less perfect. 



Of the posterior extremity, six ossa innominata, ten femora, and five 

 tibiae. Some of these are almost entire, others are much mutilated. 



It is necessary to observe, that although these large bones, as well 

 as the detached tusks, have been provisionally referred to the Mas- 

 todon, yet it is not improbable that on a further comparison a part 



* Inserted in this Journal by permission of the Lyceum. 



