373 Collection of Fossil Bones. 



belong to the same species, weighed six hundred pounds when taken 

 from the ground ; and these are nearly perfect, and when we regard 

 thetn. as being merely appendages, and sustained by the animal at 

 a great mechanical disadvantage, since they do not, like horns, rest 

 upon the head, but project from it laterally forward, we can easily 

 imagine that it would require the most powerful muscles to sustain 

 and wield the entire cranium tusks, muscles and integuments. 



We shall be happy to see additional illustrations from the able com- 

 mittee to whom we are indebted for the previous statement of facts. 



We will however venture to mention the extraordinary curvature 

 of the tusks : those of the elephant, we believe, are always in the 

 form of a bent bow, but these have almost the shape of a sickle, 

 with the blade curved to one side ; they are sharp and pointed. 

 Many of the molar teeth of the mastodon in this collection, as we have 

 often observed elsewhere, are much worn by grinding, and possess 

 a high lustre from the, polish produced by friction ; they appear to 

 have belonged to animals of very various ages, and the smaller teeth 

 are generally little or not at all worn ; in some of the teeth, the pro- 

 cesses or ridges which are so remarkably prominent in the mastodon 

 and so remarkably contrasted also in this respect with those of the 

 elephant, are entirely worn away, and are replaced by a deep, egg 

 shaped cavity, of extreme pohsh, as if it were varnished. 



It is stated that this collection of bones contains upwards of three 

 hundred in number, besides twenty two tusks, and that it weighs in 

 all 5,300 pounds. The bones were obtained by Capt. Finnel, at 

 the Big Bone Lick, twenty miles south of Cincinnati, in Kentucky. 

 The deposit was twenty two feet below the surface, but bones ap- 

 pear to have been found at various depths, as may be observed in . 

 the notice of the Rev. Sayres Gazley,* Vol. XVIII, p. 13^, of this /^ 

 Journal.f / / 



The discovery of bones of the horse is very extraordinary, as this 

 animal had been supposed not to be a native of America, and the 

 Committee believe that they are of equal antiquity with "the other 

 bdnes ; the great size of the teeth implies very large individuals, if 

 not a large species, in analogy with similar facts on the eastern con- 

 tinent. 



* Then anonymous, but since acknowledged by the Rev. gentleman, who visited 

 the spot. 



t This collection is at present shewn at the corner of Broadway and Pearl street. 

 New York, but it is understood that it will ere long, be transferred to London or 

 Paris. 



