236 G. M. Wheatley— Discovery of a Bone-Cave 



downward, until, at a depth of about forty feet (B), it is ten fe 

 wide. The whole of the space above this level is filled wil 

 the debris of the adjoining Mesozoic red shale, with occasion 

 angular fragments of Auroral limestone, without any trace 

 organic remains. Where the cave narrows to ten feet (B) tl 

 floor is composed entirely of a black clay 18 inches thick, fill* 



with leaves, stems, and seed-vessels of Post-tertiary plants. Scat- 

 tered all througli this mass of vegetable remains, and also m a 

 red tough clay underneath, for six to eight inches in depth, are 

 found the fossils noticed in this paper. , 



The Mastodon is M. Americanus of Cuvier. One ot tac 

 teeth measures sixteen inches in circumference; the enaraei i^ 

 white or cream-colored, and well preserved. The tusk \^ ^^^ 

 uncovered for three or four feet in length, and was from fi^ e ^|' 

 six inches in diameter, but crumbled into fragments on being 

 moved. The large bones are light cream color, much decom- 

 posed, but some of the articulations are very distinct. 



In addition to the Mastodon and Tapir, Prof. E. D. Cope ana 

 myself have determined Sloths of the genera Megalonyx, am 

 Mylodon, a large Artiodactyle, an Equine animal, and a lar 

 bear, the full size of the grizzly, besides other species mentiom^ 

 beyond. This bear is entirely distinct in character from e^j 

 ing species of North America and the northern regions oi i ^ 

 old world, as well as from the cave bear of Europe. It ^^^ y 

 described bv Leidv from a single molar from South Uroiiu- 

 and if of the true- genus Ursus, as is probable, will stanu 

 Ursm pristinus Leidv. ii„,it 



The bones of Megalonyx are some of them in an exceii^ 

 state of preservation ; the claws and other bones of the teei 4^^^ 

 cially are exceedingly perfect. Several canine and ^oiar ^ 

 of Megalonyx, 1^ bj If inches, with the cement and cru 

 perfect, have been found. 



