PREFACE 



The elephants and mastodons of the New York fauna which 

 disappeared with the waning of the Postglacial waters, are a sub- 

 ject of constant interest to our citizens, for the bones of these 

 creatures are still being uncovered in the normal processes of agri- 

 culture and industry. The first discovery of these extinct pro- 

 boscideans in America was made in this State and so extensive have 

 the records of their, occurrence now become that they picture a time, 

 not far behind us, when the highlands of the State, and the water- 

 sheds of the Hudson valley, were traversed by these great beasts, 

 particularly the mastodons, in vast numbers. Twenty years ago the 

 writer, who had then some experience in excavating these remains, 

 compiled and published a list of all known occurrences of these 

 creatures in this State, but since then additional early records have 

 come to light, new discoveries have been made and many specimens 

 added to the State Museum, and it has seemed wise to reconsider 

 the whole subject. This work has now been admirably done by my 

 associates, Messrs. C. A. Hartnagel and Sherman C. Bishop, who 

 have extended the record to cover all occurrences of mammalian 

 remains in the Glacial and Postglacial soils of New York. 



John M. Clarke 



Director 



September ip22 



[5] 



