highway, the remains were found. Mr. Maynard had been ex- 
cavating in the center of this meadow a large trench, five or more 
feet broad, and about seven feet deep, intending to fill it with 
stones, with the twofold purpose of making a drain and providing 
a road. The matter excavated was of a vegetable or peaty nature, 
and formed a layer seven or eight feet deep, below which was the 
solid bed rock. The ditch at this time was open for about fifty 
feet, and contained a foot of water. The workmen had, apparently, 
cut across the head of the animal, as bones belonging to other parts 
of the body were not among those thrown up ; and as no pains had 
been taken to ascertain the relative position of the fragments, it was 
not possible to decide, without further digging, in which direction 
the remainder of the body would be found. Only a superficial ex-, 
amination was made, and after hearing the statements of Mr. May- 
nard and his workmen, the party returned to the city, Dr. Brigham 
placing two of the teeth and some pieces of bone, ivory, etc. in the 
hands of Mr. Dickinson to take to Cambridge for identification. 
At the adjourned monthly meeting of The Worcester Society of 
Antiquity, held that evening, the teeth were exhibited to those 
present, and remarks in relation to them were made by President 
Crane ; Dr. W. H. Raymenton, President of the Worcester Natural 
History Society ; and Messrs. T. A. Dickinson, H. M. Smith, Clark 
Jillson, A. S. Roe and F. P. Rice. Various theories were pro- 
pounded, the general sentiment being that the teeth were those of 
a Mastodon, probably of the Mastodon giganfeus described by the 
late Dr. John C. Warren ; but this conclusion was the result of a 
hasty examination of the printed authorities, and not of definite 
knowledge of the subject. 
The announcement of the discovery created quite a sensation in ' 
Worcester, and the newspapers set forth the details in glowing ac- 
counts which were copied extensively by the press throughout the 
country. The gentlemen who had visited the place of discovery 
contemplated their singular experience with considerable satisfac- 
tion, and all awaited with impatience the result of the examination 
at Cambridge. Suspicion existed in the minds of some that the 
affair might be a hoax, and that, while the teeth were undoubtedly 
genuine, they might have been placed in the hole for the purpose 
