The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-11-12
[For the Democratic Press.1
GEOLOGY-No. L.
Teandslated from the German of Leonhard.
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For the Democratic Press.
GEOLOGY-No. L.
Teandslated from the German of Leonhard.
AcTIoNs-NsECTs.
In the Lias.foymation of Glouces-
tershire, England, insect remains are
exhibited. The deeper strata of the
lower section are rich in the wing
covers of beetles, in larvas, in wings
resembling those of the dragon-f1y,
SC. In the higher strata, we meet
only the wing-covers of the gad-fiy.
German has busted himself in re-
searches concerning the insect remains
contained in the Solerhofer state. We
limit ourselves to this point, namely!
To exhibit products wholly in the
general. There exist remains of the
inhabitants belonging to the fresh
water, or such as prefer the vicinity of
the same, springing mostly from the
living races; but no tropical FORMS
Sometimes insects are shown partly
of great size, which points to a
warmer climate, and their forms are
sometimes found heterogeneous, and
even problematical. Besides the lith-
ographic stone, we have seen insects
in amber, in .tresh-aOdter limestone of
Oeningen, as well as in that of AK,
in the former province, the latter
agree mostly with the races and spe-
cies still existing at the present day !;
furthermore, in the peat european
and North American forms); in the
jura limestone; finally, in the pit-coat
mountains Of Bohemia, and in the
clay Sronstone of this formation in
England.
AAIPHIBIA.
Upon the Oeningen giant Salaman-
der, which, as Homo Diluvii Tests
(The Man a Witness of the Deluge),
has attained a worldwide fame, Mey-
er has published an accurate account
from four specimens examined by
himself. One of the same, by its
completeness, is distinguished from all
the rest. 1t is young animal, of one
foot and ten lines, Paris measure, in
its whole length. In another speci-
men, are seen hands and feet pecu-
unfolded; these give dis
tinct development as to the number of
fingers and toes.
BIRDS.
On the opening of a box belonging
to the Gottorp collection, in Copenha-
gen, was found the skull of an extinct
droute or dstdu, almost disappearing
before our eyes, which belongs, as it
were, to the border of the animal
kingdom. The remains of the bird
once native in Bourbon-which was
larger than a turkey-cock, and which
could never have been tanned for a
domestic fowl-have been hitherto
chiefly known only in the Ashmolean
Museum of Oxford, and a picture in
The British Museum.
THE MAMMOTH,
Ostensible the Mammoth, extirpated
1y the Indians. A truly wonderful
act has been lately made known rela-
i've to the existence of the last re-
mains of this gigantic creature. On
he digging of well in Gasconade
county, Missouri, were found, five
eet below the surface of the ground,
portions of the vertabrae and pelvis of
J mammoth; also, a stone knife. Next
below the superficial stratum followed
and then blue clay and lower down
fragments of stone weighing twenty
i've pounds. The latter appeared as
they had been designedly brought
o their places and between the same
we're large tatters of hides, presenting
he aspect of lately tanned leather
further down-for the excavation was
ontinued, with the hope of finding
he rest of the skeleton-clay again
and in the same lance re-
those used by the Indians Of
he present time. Still lower, an axe,
iferent from all such as are now met
nth in this region. Then followed
layer of ashes, about foot at most
l depth, intermingled with the Goals
burnt wood, with caleined masses
bones; further in it lay axes, frag-
tents of lances, sc. Along the neck
nd head of the animal the fire must
ave been most intense, since here
oals and ashes were in the largest
uantity. On the most gentle hand
ng, the nearly complete skull crum- .
led into dust. Two of the teeth, !
'parate from the jaw, yet broken and ,
close proximity, were also found /
he proportions of all these sections
'oved the body to have been consid- {
ably larger than the remains known i
us in Europe. Regarding the situ- /
ion of this skeleton, it is highly /
'obable that the animal had sunk as ]
its hinder half in the marsh, and I
It having the ability to free itself, I
as attacked and killed. According I
this report, the mammoth must L
We been mans contemporary, and S
e remains of the same species found t
Siberia render this matter more s
obable. i.t Hz!y-iiE .r 10 .a .4e,vtj T
THE MAsToDoN. 7W ,fp1- G
In North America, during the last
-elve months, the. remains of a mas F
don have been exhumed. In the
1io valley lay.all the bones of a COM
etc skeleton, intermingled with
wlders, in fresh-water mari. South
'rds from St. Louis skull-bone was O
'covered, the weight of which was F