The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-08 00:00:00

ORGANIC REMAINS.

We copy from the New Orleans Gazette the
following description of the wonderfully LARGE
BONES lately found in that part of America :
cc Our enterprising fellow-citizen,,lNlr. SAMUEL
W. SCII OFI ELD, has disinterred, from the low
prairie grounds between Plaquemine and the
Lakes, a number of remains of the most gigantic
size. They evidently belong to some class of
animals now no longer in existence ; whether
anti-deluvian or not we are unable to say. The
great elephas mostodon, or American mammoth,
described by Dr. Mitchell, is ftr inferior in size
to these bones we have seen. From the circum-
stance of ambergris being collected in some quan-
tity from the inferior surface of the maxillary
bone, we are led to the conclusion that they are
of marine origin, but of what description we are
unable to conjecture. Upon examining these re-
mains, we are easily led to give credit to the ex-
traordinary relations given by Father Kircher, of
the Kraken, and Norway sea snake. This non-
descript, when alive, must have equalled either
of them in bulk. It is much to he regretted, that
the high stage of the water prevented Mr. Scho-
field from obtaining any more of these interesting

relifains ; but there is considerable reason to We
d,i!
ire tpeurtraetdi
o.n
oWf
oe
uera
cr
teys,tltyh
ahto
tphee
sae s much
remain
that the whole skeleton may be completely'
for blitei
untohtebrecusuffered tols lleawveethaiss
thatla e
theo nricshoah an l
Munificence
of our fellow-citizens will contribute such Pere
niary aid as will enable Mr. S. to succeed in adding
more to his invaluable collection. There is even!
reason to believe that more could be
with very little exertion. The situation 01 die.
place
place where these bones were found, is about 20
miles south-east of Fort St. Philip, in the allti(1
vial ground formed ley the Mississippi river
the lakes, and but a short distance from the see;
They appear to have been imbedded in a moil
kind of sand, which appears to have the same
preservative qualities as peat, which generallY
covers the bones of the great American mastodon:
We will attempt a faint description of those wilt
have already been brought up to this city, an
are now on board the steam-boat Expedition.'
They consist first of an enormous fragment
of
cranium. It is about twenty-two feet in legs"
and in its broadest part four feet high, and Pere.
haps, nine inches thick. It is said to weigh
about twelve hundred pounds. On the interio.;
surface the ritreous table appears to be separated
from the cancelli for some way down; this table'
is perfectly firm, and in a perfect state of Preseit; •
vation ; the digital depressions formed by t
convolutions of the cerebellum are very P,';
fect. The foramina for the passage of tu
sensorial nerves are very discernible. A rer:
large portion of the inner table of the inside of the
„
cranium is joined by a very singular squat-nous
ture. The inner surface appears in many places per
manently discoloured, by the bed of earth from
whence it was taken. In the interior part of tt.'`
cranium the diplce presents a very singular PP; •
pearance—the cavities of which are very largo;
in some cases presenting holes of near an 'ini,cll•oo
diameter, and generally very regular. uP,,st
what we judge to be the temporal portion a inwir;
singular process or elongation presents itse_,
it. is eight feet in length and of a triangular
ua
and about six inches through, tapering grad
to the point. This singular appearance sets -I/I;
our conjectures at defiance ; it is of a srittfr,'
construction, with a rough and irregular Sao
face. There appears to be no seat for
the
insertion of muscles, or foramina for
passage of the nerves, or bland vessels.„s
This bone must have been covered
whole length with a membrane ;t, for Pc
the catteelli a.
remarkably regular. There is a singular c°n:
~.
solidation of the nasal and maxilliary beme5;00
They are not united by any of the descriPt'..e
of sutures found in quadrupeds, but form o'lll,
entire mass of uniform consistence all thr°°iee
A large groove, or canal, presents itself in
of
superior portion of this bone, upon the 5' ny
which considerable quantities of ambergris u're•ci
be collected ; which appears to have muff' it
little or no decomposition of change by age", ea'
burns' with a beautiful bright flame, and elltileo-sif
odoriferous smell wltiliburning; it is of 9004
consistence, similar to adipose e. The "1"0:4(.1.0
for the transmission; of the facial nerve iset° toe
immense size. In the inferior portion .' 4i:-
stupendous bone there appears to 1?°• ainjeriOr
ticulating depression, in which the sarboce
angle of the maxillary inferiors might of te •
articulated. The other hones are----one to.
cylindrical shape, with a round head Argil:fee
the numores in quadrupeds. it is about tvi
Ii
in length, and about 10 inches in diameteryonece
two processes near the head, in some re foe
similar to the t rocanters of the femoirs-_0 eft,
cartilaginous ext,temities appear to have
tirely detached. 'Upon one end a surface,t:'hice
articulation of tsvo bones appears, one 0' foot
is in the collection. This bone is over one e
slinr
in length, and of a flattened
the cartilaginous esttremities are also gone' bones,
a firmer consistence; than any of the otber,oe 00
with a singular irradition of ossific appears pro'
the outside surface. These two bones al_
_stse
bably the leg of the animal. There are pe
!amber, dorsal, and cervical vertebrx.los ore
cylindrical portion of those of the first e_ pro'
fourteen inches in diameter, with transvers
_do'
cesses, in every respect like those 01 rersei
peds. One of them has the, introver at 12
substance completely detached. It i 5
inches in diameter, and perhaps 2 iuce%tren't..
in the centre, tapering gradually to the
~,reser:.
ties, this specimen is in a perfect state °is itilereOr
vation. In the articulation of these hone
-considerable analogy to the human verteuo,into7
. time, at this moment, forbids our enterrtr
more particular description of these It tt:ve are
remains of Probably another world•
destr
much at a loss also in the anatomical 00 is
as we can form no analogy from uns t"
what ge erie
anatomy to enable us to decide to tio„
animal belongeth. alluvial silt" tot they
they were found justifies the oPininn the oast.:
must have been deposited there bY Couje%tur,
but at what period we are at a loss ill f this ~°is
ing. To judge from the appearance °en if t'ilttt
tion of the cranium which we haves e,.,5'
monster was of the Batanx species, 't"ated,..o,
could not be less than 250 feet. It is swesetl'sciil
from this place, whence these remains food. so-
terred, a large carniverous tooth was ili the 1?0•0
carried away. It is also related that: cseatied,
1799, many remains of anti-deluvia_uj
slip eCt
were taken up near the same place, most
to Europe. Mr. Schofield feels the axe, coo
conviction that he could. at a slight 'sfience
lect many more. Every friend 01 Science
!warp
feel highly interested in his exertions'obt thatppet
wish him success ; and have no d..eng of
liberality and msist him
of the citizorthy
Orleans will as in his praisew
tions." g 01
treetinA 'or
NEW CATHOLIC AssociaTiorteoneene"ctel
the Committee of Thirty-one v/05 C. 5
coolie
fop
Saturday last. Some routine busine'ihe Os Air
with the arrangement of matters for but i'°:(
nation of knowledge was disposed 0bosille:15, pr.
cussion took place, nor was .101 petit •
public nature transacted.—(DtWill •
• P'
sister.)
NO, otlt''
Printed and Published for the PROFI73 CAO
OFFICE, No. 112, Strand, kr"'