APPENDIX. 179 



Dr. Ducatel, with other fossils, from the spot pointed out by him. It had all the external cha- 

 racters (the physiognomy) of the fossils from the locality. Moreover, it was broken by the men 

 engaged in digging, and the fragments could not be recovered : this was so stated at the time 

 by Dr. Tilden. 



" Dear Sir, however anomalous the case may be, I do not see how we can set aside the 

 facts. I regret that we have no means now of beginning the investigation de novo for your 

 sake. I was in hopes I should have had the opportunity, as it would have been a pleasure to 

 me, to answer all your queries explicitly from Dr. Tilden's own statements ; his demise alone 

 prevents it. 



" I will, however, not lose sight of the matter, and may, in the course of the spring, have 

 an opportunity of learning whether any thing else of the kind has been developed from the same 

 locality." 



Feb. 22, 1S49. — "I had the pleasure of addressing you on the 21st ult., and inter alia stated 

 that I feared all likelihood of obtaining further positive information in regard to the Fossil 

 Mastodon tooth was now lost, in consequence of the death of Dr. Tilden. The brother of Dr. 

 Tilden has heretofore resided in Baltimore, and, at the time I wrote you, was absent from the 

 city. The death of Dr. Tilden I learned from an acquaintance of the family. On yesterday, 

 however, I saw Mr. Tilden himself, and learned from him the following facts, of which he had 

 a perfect and distinct recollection : That he was present on the spot at the time the digging for 

 the marl was made ; he describes the place as being between a bank of shell, &c, about sixteen 

 feet in height, and the river ; that a black boy was set to work for the purpose of exposing the 

 bed of marl, and, whilst so doing, this fossil tooth was turned up ; it was taken from the ground 

 by the boy, and brought to Mr. Tilden (then present), who directed him to take it to the water 

 near by, and wash the dirt from it. This was done, and the tooth put into Mr. Tilden's hands ; 

 who stages that he gave the boy some change from his pocket as a reward. Mr. Tilden and 

 those who were with him, thinking that, as they had discovered a tooth, perhaps the head of 

 the animal might be found, extended the digging with this hope and expectation ; but they were 

 unsuccessful. Some other interesting fossils were found; all of which were brought over to 

 Baltimore by Mr. Tilden, and given to Dr. Ducatel. 



" Mr. Tilden is so positive and clear in his statement, that I think no further doubt can be 

 entertained in regard to the matter. He gave me his account without knowing why I parti- 

 cularly desired it, detailing the search for the head, after finding the tooth, &c. When I told 

 him of the doubts that had been connected with it, he was desirous of writing to his friends on 

 the Eastern Shore to corroborate his statement ; but I did not deem it necessary, as Mr. Tilden 

 saw (suis oculis .') the tooth exhumed, and remembers it so distinctly. 



