300 LIFE OF THE PLEISTOCENE 



of the loess is slightly peaty, probably representing the Sangamon soil. A car- 

 pal bone was found in the same clay. A tooth found in Rural Township may 

 have been derived from the Sangamon deposits. 



The bones of several mammals, as well as the remains of other animals, 

 were reported by Worthen 81 from a point between Niantic, Macon County, and 

 Illiopolis, Sangamon County. Worthen says: "the Niantic mastodon was 

 found on the farm of W. F. Corell, in a wet, spongy piece of ground located in 

 a swale or depression of the surface that had evidently once been a pond and 

 had been filled up by the wash from the surrounding highland until it formed 

 a morass or quagmire in dry weather. The bones were about four feet below 

 the surface and partly embedded in light gray quicksand filled with fresh water 

 shells. Above this quicksand was found four feet of black peaty soil, so soft 

 that a fence rail could easily be pushed down through it. The quicksand had 

 evidently once formed the bottom of a fresh water pond, fed probably by 

 springs, and was the resort of the animals whose bones were found here. " The 

 species of animals found in this deposit are listed below: 



Mastodon (Mammal americanum) 

 Elk (Cervus canadensis) 

 Buffalo (Bison bison?) 

 Deer (Odocoilens virginianus) 

 Pbysa (Physa species) 

 Flanorbis (Planorbis species) 

 Cyclas (Sphaerium species) 



This deposit is outside of the Wisconsin drift and rests on Illinoian drift, 

 hence it appears referable to the Sangamon interval. 



A tooth of Eiephas primigenius was found in an excavation at the Kewanee 

 works of the National Tube Co., at Kewanee, Henry County. It was found 

 at a depth of 12 feet in undisturbed yellow clay, and is probably referable to 

 the Sangamon interval (specimen in Museum of Natural History, University 

 of Illinois). 



In Adams County, especially near Quincy, the loess is 30-40 feet thick and 

 is underlaid by a foot or more of chocolate-colored clay containing twigs and 

 other vegetable remains (the Sangamon soil). At Alton, Madison County, 

 and Chester, Randolph County, a number of mammals occur in deposits refer- 

 able to the Sangamon. These are identified by Worthen as follows: 82 



Mastodon Bos primigenius 



Mammoth Castoroides ohioensis 



Megalonyx Several small rodents 



Mollusks are said to have been found with the mammals. 



" Geol. 111., V, p. 308; VIII, p. 23; Amer. Nat., V, p. 607. 

 • 2 Geol. 111., IV, p. 46; VIII, p. 8. 



