GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



139 



ON THE LOCALITIES IN TENNESSEE IN WHICH BONES OF 

 THE GIGANTIC MASTODON AND MEGALONYX JEFFERSONII 

 ARE FOUND. By G. Troost, M. D., Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy 

 and Geology, in the University of Nashville, Tennessee ; Member of the Geo« 

 logical Society of Transylvania, and of Pennsylvania &c. &c. 



Many conjectures have been formed respecting the 

 first inhabitants of our country, and several hypotheses 

 have been advanced to determine their origin- — whether 

 they belonged to more enlightened races of men &c. 

 Although these investigations extend, comparatively 

 speaking, over but a short space of time, we are, never- 

 theless, quite in the dark, and can only form some pro- 

 bable conjectures concerning them. 



We can, however, speak with more certainty of be- 

 ings which inhabited this country during a more remote 

 period of time — beings which are not only anterior to 

 historical record, but perhaps anterior to the existence 

 of man. I allude to some large animals, the remains of 

 which we find at present in several parts of the United 

 States. 



I learned, accidentally, that some large bones had 

 been found near the farm of Mr. Thomas Holt, and 

 went immediately to the place, but I was already too 

 late to prevent the mutilation and destruction of these 

 relics. I engaged some men to dig for the remaining 

 portions, and found the under jaw-bone and several 

 fragments of other bones. Mr. HL had the kindness to 



