a 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, 1922 1 S5ul 
MBLHOD OF RESTORING THE COHOES MASTODON 
BY NOAH T, CLARKE 
The task of reconstructing the Cohoes mastodon in life form 
and on a scientific basis was, from the start, an adventure which 
entailed all the emotions that might be expected in the explora- 
tion of a new field. 
This seemed an opportunity to create something of real 
scientific value and general interest, something which had never 
before been attempted and, if a success, well worth the arduous 
labor it would require. Could it be done successfully or should 
this museum try it or had we better stand aside and let some~- 
one else risk failure. After serious consideration it seemed that 
the opportunity was too favorable not to make the attempt; with 
the assurance of every available aid; for what was not actually 
known about a few points in the structure of the American 
mastodon, could not be intelligently criticized and our best guess 
would have to serve and satisfy till the contrary was proved. 
The first procedure was to consult Mr Carl E. Akeley of the 
American Museum of Natural History in New York, whose work 
as a big game sculptor-taxidermist is beyond comparison. This 
institution owes a great deal of the success of the restoration to 
his interest and advice, for what he could not tell us about the 
makeup of the recent elephant would not matter. 
Before starting in on the actual work, many photographs and 
sketches of living elephants were made at the Bronx zoo and visiting 
circuses. These gave opportunity for study and a foundation on 
which to work. 
Armed with this material operations were started on a model 
about one-third actual size on which errors could be made and 
corrected before the full-sized beast was commenced. A lantern 
slide of the mastodon skeleton was projected to one-third natural 
size and an outline traced on which all measurements of the 
skeleton were placed. A framework was built accordingly and 
covered with galvanized wire netting on which to model. This 
was carefully done by comparing the mastodon skeleton with 
that of the elephant and in proportion to the size of the bones of 
the mastodon with those of the elephant, the manikin of the sketch 
model gradually took form. This model was made in plaster and 
when we were satisfied that it was correct and conformed in proper 
