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♦ 
Received December 20, 1767. 
V. Obfervations on the Bones , commonly 
fuppofed to be Elephants Bones , which have 
been found near the River Ohio in Ame- 
rica: By William Hunter, RED. F. R. S. 
Read February 7 5>T^"T Atu R AL IS TS, even thofe of our 
own times, have entertained very 
different opinions concerning foflil ivory, and the 
large teeth and bones, which have been dug lip in 
great numbers in various parts of the world. 
At firft, fome thought them animal fubflances, and 
others mineral. When only a certain number of 
obfervations had been colleded, thefe fubflances were 
determined to be mineral : but, the fubjed having 
been more carefully examined, they were found 
certainly to be parts of animals. 
After this point was fettled, a difpute arofe, to 
what animal they belonged. The more general opi- 
nion was, that they were bones of the elephant ; and 
the great fimilitude of the foffil tufks to the real ele- 
phants teeth gave this opinion confiderable credit. 
It was liable however to great objedions : the 
bones were obferved to be larger than thofe of the 
elephant; and it was thought ft range that elephants 
fhould have been formerly fo numerous in weftern 
countries, where they are no longer natives, and in 
cold countries, Siberia particularly, where they can- 
not now live. 
We 
