Report on the Excavation of Mastodon Remains. 7 



Lacy's quarry, places at which we hoped to find something of 

 scientific interest. At the ranch, four or five miles northeast 

 of Hondo, we were shown the spot from which were once taken 

 some large bones, presumably of a mastodon. This place is in 

 the bank of Verde creek, but three feet above the bottom of its 

 bed. It lies in an old flood plain, built by the stream in former 

 times, but which now is on the outside of a bend, and hence 

 is being cut away. This accounts for the exposure of the fos- 

 sils. 



The quarry was found to be a great ledge of calcareous sand- 

 stone extending across the bed of Hondo creek, two miles north- 

 east of the town of Hondo. I had seen flagstones bearing 

 ripple marks in the sidewalks of Hondo, and had made inquiries 

 as to the source of the material, thinking that I might there 

 find something of interest. I was informed that it was Lacy's 

 quarry. On inspecting these rocks I was not in the least dis- 

 appointed, for here were large exposures of the most perfect 

 ripple marks (Plate III). 



The flags so commonly used for sidewalks in San Antonio, 

 and which also often afford examples of ripple marks, are pre- 

 sumably of the same geological formation. With the aid of a 

 crowbar we attempted to secure a specimen of this beautifully 

 marked rock, but owing to its firmness and the intensity of the 

 heat, we soon abandoned the attempt. But the next best thing — 

 a picture — was more easily to be had, and before we departed 

 Mr. Heusinger succeeded in taking some very satisfactory 

 views. 



Arriving in Hondo, we proceeded to repack our specimens 

 preparatory to shipping them by express to their destination. 

 While thus employed, a large number of curious townspeople 

 congregated about us to view these weird relics of a bygone age. 

 In due time we took the train for San Antonio, glad to return 

 home but with a feeling of satisfaction as to the results of 

 our trip. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE FOSSILS. 



1. A tusk (Plate II, 1). About 30 inches of this fossil were 

 uncovered and removed. It was necessarily broken in the lat- 

 ter operation, as both ends were still imbedded. The part re- 

 moved separated into several pieces, the ivory being poorly pre- 



