482 Frerp Museum or Natura. History — Zooétoey, Vor. XI. 
Molar tooth of Mastodon americanus,* Molar tooth of Elephas primigenius, 
American Mastodon. Northern Mammoth. 
(About } nat. size.) (About k nat. size.) 
had been preserved for ages, some of them in nearly perfect condition. 
In 1799 the body of a Mammoth, E. primigenius, was found frozen 
in the ice in the estuary of the Lena River, Siberia. It was in such a 
good state of preservation that it is claimed some of its flesh was eaten 
by the men who discovered it. Unfortunately, however, the carcass 
was almost destroyed by wolves and bears before the remains were 
ultimately secured and taken to St. Petersburg, where the skeleton 
and some of the hide are preserved. Unlike the modern Elephant, 
these animals were covered with long, brown hair mixed with longer, 
black hairs, and had a shaggy mane. 
In r901 another frozen specimen was discovered near Beresovka, 
Siberia, which was practically complete; but much of the hair was lost 
in excavating it. The animal was saved and mounted and is now on 
exhibition in the museum at St. Petersburg. 
We have reason to believe that species belonging to this order 
existed in North America at a comparatively recent date and were 
not unlikely contemporaneous with primitive man. It is interesting 
to note that some Indian tribes have traditions that the huge bones 
of these animals belonged to ‘‘Fathers of Oxen,”’ beasts that lived 
in ancient times together with a giant race of men. 
Those who desire further information concerning our fossil species 
are referred to such well known publications as: Extinct Monsters, by 
H. N. Hutchinson, New York, 1892; Creatures of Other Days, by H. 
N. Hutchinson, New York, 1894; Manual of Geology, by J. A. Dana, 
4th ed., 1895; Animals of the Past, by F. C. Lucas, New York, 1901, and 
other works by the same author; The Evolution of the Elephant, by 
Richard S. Lull, Amer. Journ. Sci., March, 1908; and The Age of 
Mammals in Europe, Asia and North Atnerica, by H. F. Osborn, New 
York, 1910. 
*Cuvier’s name of Mastodon for this genus must give place to Mammut of 
Blumenbach but the change here might be misleading. 
