The Shaw Mastodon. 



221 



remains in Ohio, Dr. Orton has thought best to place it among 

 the post-glacial finds.* 



Heretofore, such mastodon bones as have been found in 

 Hamilton County have been mere fragments or, at best, only 

 an odd bone or two, always accompanied by, and usually rest- 

 ing upon, washed gravel. But, in this instance, we have a 

 quantity of bones, from at least three mastodons. So that, 

 locally, this find, from quantity alone, is a justly notable one. 

 The fact of more than one animal being represented is of 

 more than passing significance- Although there is no reason 

 to suppose that these animals were mired, or that they floated 

 to their last resting place entire — since the bones were so . 

 scattered and out of their relative positions — yet, they must 

 have perished in the immediate vicinity — probably in the 

 neighboring swamp — and during different freshets were car- 

 ried into an eddy along the bank and deposited from time to 

 time where they were unearthed. 



The following list indicates the principal bones recovered, 

 they belong to M. americanus, unless otherwise indicated, 

 to-wit : 



Three tusks and the tip of a fourth. 



One entire lower jaw, including two mandibular tusks. 

 (See plates XI and XII.) 



"Dr. Orion's report is as follows : 



Columbus. Ohio, December 10, 1894. 



My Dear Mr. H.ayes : 



At your request I visited the locality in Hyde Park from which were taken the 

 interesting mammalian — mainly mastodon — remains that you secured for your 

 Society last Summer. I noted as far as possible the geological facts of their occur- 

 rence. From what I saw and from the information you gave me, I am of the opin- 

 ion that the mastodon remains are of post-glacial origin or age. 



There were some anomalous facts connected with them that made me halt for a 

 time between two opinions as to their date, viz : whether they were post-glacial or 

 inter-glacial ; but, on the whole, I felt constrained to adopt the conclusion above 

 expressed. This conclusion is in line with all the other discoveries of mastodon 

 and mammoth remains in Ohio with which I am acquainted; indeed, I have never 

 met a case before in which any question could be raised. 



You report your " find " as occurring in blue cla\ r . Above the Hue clay is yel- 

 low clay and sand, with a few molluscan shells of living species. This last division 

 is unmistakably post-glacial. Below the remains there are a number of feet of 

 equally unmistakable bowlder clay. The question isastothe age of the deposit that 

 covers the bones, whether it belongs to the upper or lower series. I have given 

 the answer that seems, on the whole, best supported, when I reported the bones as 

 found in a post-glacial formation. 



I congratulate the Society on the very interesting discovery, and I do not see 

 how your part of the work could have been better done. 



Very truly yours, Edward Ortox. 



