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fossil elk of Ireland, 
until the present Marquis of Downshire caused a level to be 
brought up from the eastward ( part of it being a tunnel), and 
thus laid the bog dry. This measure was attended with a 
two-fold benefit to the tenantry, the provision of a valuable 
combustible, and the discovery of an excellent manure in the 
form of white marl beneath the peat. The latter extends 
from a few feet to twenty feet in depth ; and the subjacent 
marl from one to three, four, and five feet in thickness. The 
marl when fresh dug has partly a grayish tinge, but on 
losing its moisture it becomes white. 
" In cutting down the peat to the bed of marl, the remains 
of .the gigantic elk have frequently been met with; and 
invariably, as I am assured by the concurrent testimony of 
the tenantry, placed between the peat and the marl, or merely 
impressed in the latter. It is stated that at least a dozen 
heads with the branches, accompanied by other remains, 
have thus been found from time to time : but being unfor- 
tunately deemed of no value by the country people, they 
have for the most part been scattered and destroyed. It is 
to be hoped, however, that a sufficient inducement will lead 
them to bestow greater care on the preservation of whatever 
remains may be hereafter discovered. 
The marl, upon examination, appears in a great measure 
composed of an earthy calcareous base, containing commi- 
nuted portions of shells ; and that these are all derived from 
fresh water species, is proved by the myriads of these shells 
that remain in the marl, still preserving their perfect forms. 
They are however bleached, very brittle, and retain little 
of their animal matter ; but in all other respects they have 
^the characters of recent shells. After examining several 
