Notices of Big-hone Lick, 163 



majority consist of those discovered at Big-bone Lick, by General 

 . Clarke. 



The western museum of Cincinnati, and Letton's museum in 

 the same city, contain many relics of the mastodon, nearly all 

 from Big-bone lick. Together there are not less than one hun- 

 dred pieces, more than half being grinders, of three and more 

 pairs of points. There is, however, in the latter museum, a lower 

 jaw, which is remarkable for having both branches tolerably 

 complete, though the teeth are wanting. 



My researches at Big-bone Lick, procured me about seventy 

 pieces, of which the most considerable were as follows : 



Two large, and numerous small fragments of tusks, presumed 

 of mastodon. 



A small left lower jaw, with one molar tooth, of four points ; 

 being the anterior milk molar. This is from a very young 

 individual, probably the youngest yet discovered, the first 

 milk molar being scarcely at all worn.* 1 obtained likewise • 

 several other interesting portions, including teeth and bones, 

 apparently all belonging to this small head. 



Four other large portions of lower jaws, all different, but with- 

 out teeth. 



Thirty tolerably perfect separate molar teeth, besides large 



fragments of others.^ 

 Seven vertebrae, mutilated, and several portions of ribs. 

 Two portions of scapulae. 



* The Tetracaulodon of the late justly lamented Dr. Godman, appears to me, after 

 a careful examination of his specimen, to be another young individual, also of the com- 

 mon mastodon, but older than mine, the anterior milk molars having begun to fall, 

 after having been used until they were worn down. I have stated my reasons for this 

 opinion, in a paper on the dentary system of the mastodon, which I read to the Lyceum 

 of Natural History, in April, 1830. It appears, however, from recent observations, 

 that the lower tusks, which I suppose all of the species to have possessed in their 

 youth, were in some instances permanent during the advanced age of the animal. But 

 whether this was a sexual characteristic, or mere!}'- an individual case of anomaly, of 

 which I have seen other curious examples, / cannot recognize more than one species 

 of mastodon^ among the great quantity of their remains found in the United States, 

 which have come under my observation, those just alluded to, included. 



We are happy to find that Mr. Cooper, who has given this subject so careful an ex- 

 amination, and who has had such rare opportunities of studying the dentition of these 

 animals, agrees with us so thoroughly in the opinion we have always expressed on 

 this subject. Vide Monthly American Journal of Geology, &c. Vol. I. No. 3, p. 141. 



Editor. 



t Among these I include one similar to the toot|a, also from Big-bone Lick, described 

 by Dr. Harlan, as having belonged to an extinct species of tapir. That it is a young 

 mastodon's tooth, is evident, I think, from the milk teeth still remaining in the head on 

 which the supposed genus tetracaulodon is founded, as well as from the small jaw 

 above described. 



