On the Fossil Tooth of an Elephant. 31 



The average of ten years, shows about 90 days, in the 

 year, of falling weather — or nearly one day in four. It 

 must jnot, however, be inferred that we bask in sunshine^ 

 three days out of four. On an average of the year, it is 

 probable there is nearly one other day in four which is dull 

 and cloudy — although without any appreciable quantity of 

 rain. 



I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obed't servant, 



Wm. Darlington. 



Professor Silliman. 



Art. VI. — On the Fossil Tooth of an Elephant, found near 

 the shore of Lake Erie, and on the skeleton of a Masto- 

 don, lately discovered on the Delaware and Hudson Ca- 

 nal ; by Jer: Van Rensselaer, M. D. 



to the editor. 



New York, Dec. 24, 1827. 



Dear Sir — An extremely interesting relic of former ages 

 having been lately presented to the Lyceum of Natural His- 

 tory, I take the liberty to offer you a few observations upon 

 it, for the pages of your Journal : premising that what is now 

 proffered, is the substance of a report which I have made to 

 that institution upon this subject, and which is their property. 



This " medal of nature," or "medallion of creation," as 

 it is the fashion to term organic remains, is the fossil tooth of 

 an elephant — and was, by the kindness of Dr. Micthill, se- 

 cured to the cabinet of the Lyceum from Mr. Sanford, the 

 proprietor, who has liberally presented it. This gentleman 

 states it to have been found in the town of Beaverdam, Erie 

 county, state of Pennsylvania, near the border of a small 

 rivulet, about six hundred feet above the level of lake Erie, 

 and not far from it. 



When first discovered, it was supposed to belong to the 

 Mastodon, but the first glance enables us to pronounce it ele- 

 phantine. It is eight and an half inches long, three and one 

 third inches broad, and has six inches for its greatest depth ; in 

 a line four and an half inches long, there are thirteen layers of 

 enamel, and twelve of cement — not differing materially in 

 dimensions from other fossil elephant teeth in our cabinet. 



The enamel remains in good condition, the lines thin, and 

 nearly straight. The plates are parallel and nearly straight, 



