152 THE GREAT MASTODON. 
less capacious belly ; that notwithstanding these 
agreements, the peculiar structure of the grinders 
would be sufficient to characterize it as a genus 
different from the Elephant ; that it fed much in 
the same manner as the Hippopotamus, or Wild 
Boar, preferring the roots and other fleshy parts of 
vegetables ; that this kind of nourishment would 
lead it to seek the soft or marshy grounds ; but 
that, nevertheless, it was not formed to swim and 
live in the water like the Hippopotamus, but was 
truly a land animal ; that the bones are now very 
common in North America ; that they are there 
better preserved, and fresher than the other fossil 
bones, but there is not the least proof or authentic 
information which could lead to the supposition, 
that the animal now exists either in America or 
elsewhere.’’ 
The remains of other animals apparently resem- 
bling the Mastodon, have been discovered in 
Europe and South America; so that even this 
form seems to have had its congeners in an ancient 
world. 
The next animal to which we shall advert, now 
lives in the waters of Africa ; it is 
