142 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



oxide of iron. I consider this deposit, which is no more 

 than three or four feet deep, in fact at some places no more 

 than a few inches, as the result of the disintegration of 

 the prevailing rocks of the vicinity ; it contains no ma- 

 terials which are not found in place in the same neigh- 

 borhood, and it covers the strata of limestone which 

 belong to the upper transition series or mountain lime- 

 stone. The country is more or less rolling with small 

 hills, and forms a kind of ridge which divides the water, 

 part running westward towards Little Harpeth river, 

 and part running east towards Mill creek — the bones 

 were found in a small run or rivulet which carries off 

 the water in the vicinity towards the latter creek, and 

 is mostly dry ; it runs between two elevations, and they 

 lie not quite three feet under the surface 5 in fact, the 

 head of the femur long since projected above ground, 

 and was used in rainy seasons when the run contained 

 water, for a step to cross it, there being a road there 

 also for carts and wagons, which must have fractured 

 many of the bones. 



A few years ago, another skeleton, or part of one, 

 was found not far from the place mentioned above, on 

 the premises of Doctor Webb, near the Harpeth river, 

 or rather between Nelson's creek and the above named 

 river. Both these localities, that in the vicinity of Mr. 

 Holt and Dr. Webb, must be considered as high and 

 dry situations. Dr. Webb's habitation is near the little 

 river Harpeth, and near the ridge which sends its water 

 towards Duck river ; as far as I know, no salt marshes or 

 lakes are near. The bones lie about six feet under 



