Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-25


large enough to admit the insertion of the wrist
The openings in front of tho orbits of tho sockets
of the eyes, and through which passed the supra
or6itdr neroe, small in most animals as to be un
noticed, arc here an inch and moro in diameter
and will give some notion of the colossal struc-
,ure of tho anatomy of this gigantic wandercr oour
forests.
1t is to be furthermore mentioned, in respect to
tho characteristic features of the organization of
tho Mammoth or Mastodon, tn at the tusks were
always observed to be of infinitely greater length
and thickness than they ever attain In the Oldest
Elepant and quite dispreportonate in size to those
of all other animals; which furnished always q
wcll-grounded reason to believe that the Mastodon
of right distinct family by himself. Below
the mares nostrial openings it may be added is
a deepiong assure or indentation, doubtless the
place where inserted the muscle that moved
the proboscis or trunk. The passage through the
occiput or back part of the head into the spine,
where the spinal marrow comes out from the brain,
is much largar than the diameter of the ann.
1t would appear therefore, that tho Mostodon
tproperly so named from tho peculiarly of the
teeth before spoken off, like of the living in
congruous combinations seen in the animals of
New Holland, was in respect to his organs and
formation, compound, blending in many particu-
lars the pecuiarities of the and the elephant,
between which families seems to be his natural
position in Zoology. The head from Kentucky
| now exhibiting hero, and which has given rise to
this communication, is that of individual about
tloothirds grown, or perhaps belonging TO female,
which consideration is strengthened by the deli
cate and slender form of the tusks.
Thousand curious associations present them
scres to the mind, when 60 back to the period
certainly not very remote, (as seen by the fresh
| and sound state of these bones,) whe, this, now
| extinct monster, bounded, the Indian tradition
| (now proved no legendary fabulous tale,) ex.
presses II, over the forests of this continent. What
that wondrous change in the superficial sur
face of the Garth, (for from the shallow depths OF
the graves where they embedded, this change
could only have been superfcial,) which overwhe
| med and put of hat nd
where they were wont to roam undisputed mas
| tiers. the entire of these animals, do not
| attempt to divine The Mitchillian hypothcsi.
however, has ingenuity enough to recommend il
to substitute, until better is invented
The ruptures through different chains of noun
tains in our country, that of the Cumberland in
Tennessee, the Shenandoah in Virginia, the gap Of
the Delaware, the passage of the ST. Lawrence anC
the yet more extraordinary excavation of the Hud
son River through the Highlands, all indicate the
Occurrences at no distant epoch (perhaps some 150(
years since) of mighty revolution upon the earth
exterior, on this continent, which wo have plausi
bic reasons to believe, consisted in the breaking
down and through these mountain barriers of some
great inland ocean, the remains of whose waters
covered our western states, and finally subsidet
into the basins which forms present chain O.
lakes, still spacious in circumference and depth
as to be justly denominated the inland of NORTH
I America
But then the question back to us how the Ele-
plant, who>e homes found entombed in the de-
posi'oIies the Eastodon, could have endure TIN
rigorous CLIMATE the cold and MYSTERIOUS winds and Il,
driving and slects OF winter, different FROM
the warm and balmy regions where he is known Il
dwell and prefer for his residence We magin
that the Mastodon was harder ANNA. and could EN-
dure these snYeri,ies; and also know Elephan
may he acciimated to less genial atu India
Africa: But how we hfn. ourselves belief IN
the existence of this vast OF upon
had not the tendency to make climate colder
than it is in our day, since ascrbe aRi
ieTpestuousness 10 the proximity of those very lake
wh ch are the remains of that ocean,
But am plunging into of speculation too deer
and wide To lie mingled up with the observations whc
form the subject of this and who
fatter myself will he thought be founded upon
now too well established TO bc contested.
New York, Juns Ii, 1881
Measurement oftte head-Greatest length from III
angle of the frontal and parietal homes the aniero
projection of the jaw homes which form the upper
Of tine alveolar processes sockets of the tusks3
Greatest breadth the nostrils e, betwee
the oueI ofhirar angles of the frontal homes al III
base of the biain-22 inches.
Greatest depth Of crenium from the Union Of the from
tai and Pareta bones Jolly the foramen
OF the orcin'al hone, from the top of the head III
be ginning Of tn spine-20 inches T.