RESEARCHES 



ON 



THE FOSSIIi BONES 



OF 



QUADRUPEDS. 

 PARTI. 



ON THE FOSSIL BONES OF PACHYDERMATOUS QUADRUPEDS, DISCOVERED IN 



ALLUVIAL FORMATIONS. 



Preliminary Remarks on these Formations, and on the Family of the 

 Pachydermata in general. 



Several reasons have decided us in selecting the bones of pachy- 

 dermatous animals of alluvial formations, as the objects of our first 

 researclies. 



In the first place. Fossil Bones in general are much more common in 

 alluvial formations than in any of the other strata. Those of quadrupeds 

 are even so rare in the regnlar rocky strata, that some distinguished geo- 

 logists have doubted of their existence therein. 



In the next place, the nature of these strata enables us to obtain the 

 bones in a more perfect state, and one in which they can be more easily 

 known. 



Thirdly, as these formations constitute the most superficial strata of 

 the globe, they are the most frequently dug into ; and finally, as the 

 superficial layers are necessarily also the most recent, the bones they 

 contain bear more resemblance to those of the animals now existing, 

 and consequently admit of being more readily determined with re- 

 spect to their genera and species. 



There are however considerable diff^erences in point of antiquity 

 between the alluvial strata ; some which constitute the ground of 

 spacious valleys, or the surface of spacious plains, are extended to 

 considerable distances, and to considerable depths : these form the prin- 

 cipal object of our present researches ; most of the bones they contain 

 belong evidently to animals foreign at least to our climates, such as 

 elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, &c. 



The other alluvial strata, less extended, and especially more recent, 

 are deposited daily by rivers, either at the time of their inundations, or 

 in places where their banks are most concave. They form what are 



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