FOSSIL MAMMALIAN REMAINS. 113 
skull we see indubitable proofs of the vile manner in which this 
poor creature lost his life; but it is not so easy to account for its 
entombment at so great a depth in what appeared to be undis- 
turbed sand. 
3. Horss, Hquus 
Two molars belonging to the under-jaw of a horse have been. 
discovered by Mr. John Hancock and Mr. Atthey in the peat 
deposit at Prestwick Car; but more perfect information is 
desirable, in order to be able to attest the antiquity of the 
species. 
4, Eig or Moosn, Cervus Alces, Linn. (Plate V.) 
The former existence of the true Elk or Moose Deer of the 
Canadians, in our district, indeed, I may say in Hngland, for its 
occurrence in any of the fossiliferous deposits of South Britain 
has not yet been recorded, rests upon the authority of a very 
fine antler presented to the Natural History Society by Mr. 
Walter Dodds, Hope House, North Tyne. 
Dr. Charlton, through whose kindness it was presented to the 
Museum, has obligingly informed me that it was found in Chir- 
don Burn, near the bottom of the recent Peat formation, resting, 
partially on the coarse gritty marl formed by the weathering 
of the subjacent strata. The antler appears to have been 
partially exposed and damaged some time prior to complete 
disentombment. It has received more serious injury from being 
suddenly removed from the moist peaty marl to ornament the 
fireplace of the farmer’s kitchen. 
The perfect preservation of the outer rind or periosteum of the 
antler, and its dark colour, are most probably due to the tanning 
properties of the peat. The interior bony portion seems to be 
quite destitute of animal matter, and though no great antiquity 
can be claimed for this specimen, it has evidently undergone the 
first steps towards fossilisation. The perfect appearance of the 
burr or boss shows it to have been shed, and the number of 
points or digitations indicate it to have belonged to an individual 
six or seven years old, and therefore immature, as it is said the elk 
does not complete the growth of its horns till the fourteenth year. 
VOL. Vv. PT. II. M 
