Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-02-01
THE CHRONICLE.
CaIirorpia,s Latest Discovery.

CaltfOrnia's Latest discovery
a curious reptile was discovered
about three weeks ago by wOrkmen
engaged in preparing rock from the
petrified forest, of which material
samuel Brannan is building a house
at CalistOga. In breaking a petrihed
tree with a sledge hammer, they came
upon an animal bearing more resem-
biance to a lizard than any thing
else. With blind faith in the pre-
sentative power of liquor, they clap
ned him into a bottle Of whisky,
which of course killed him. Several
DAYS afterward, Mr.. Brannan himself
was near them at their work, when q
blow Of the hammer split a portion OF
a petrifed tree, revealing a similar
reptile nearly as large. Mr.. Brannan,
/ with that reverence for any thing
primitive, which characterizcs Cali
fOrnia's pioneers, secured the creature
| and placed il i'm a phial. The animal
is about two inches in length from its
/ nose to the tip Of its tail. The tail
forms about one-third Of its whole
length. It has four legs and feet.
The fore one are attached to its body
just hack Of its head, and the hind
ones just at the junction or The tail
and body. The four feet are furnish
ed with four claws or fingers, one OF
which being shorter than the others,
resembles a thumb. The hind feet
have one more finger. The head and
mouth resemble a diminutive frog. II
does not open its mouth, but keeps il:
throat constantly in a FACILITATING mo.
lion.
Its eyes are dark and resembl,
small glass beads stuck on its head
Held between the sunlight and th'
eve, the body and tail. legs and Zee.
appear translucent. Down the bach
the spinal column makes a darE
streak, end two spots, darker than thu
rest, indicate the location OF the diges
tive organs.
The reptile is now kept in q corkeC
four-ounce phial. a little water is il
the bottom of the phial, but the ami
NAL keeps as far away from it as pos
sible. It is also exceedingly averset L
light. The formation Of It's feet en-
a6les it to climb up the inside OF tn
perpendicular phial, even when wet
1t lakes its station as far from tn
water as it can get, and remains Their
until dislodged.
The creature was found imbedde'
in the body Of a petTihed hr-tree abou
two or three feet in diameter. 81
counting the layers Of the tree 10 wa
ascertained that it was 500 years oil,
when il commenced to petrify. l
was living PROSTATE on the grOun'
when found, but the manner II
Which it was broken from the ada
cent stump shows that it must hav.
petrifed while standing. IL wa
found in the midst Of a petrihed forest
about three and q half miles west o
CalistOga, in Napa county. The Tor
est embraces about ten acres OF trees
all of which are in a complete state 9
Detrifaction. Most of them have fall
en- to the ground, but a few well-rool
ed are standing, their immense weigh
however. causing them TO lean. The,
comprise red wood, madrOne, mazani
Ia and oak, and contains specimens a
large a. eleven feet in circumference
The %petrifactiOn OF the fir species j
the most pleasing in appearance. tn
. pitch layers have formed into beauti
ful quartz crystals, and are a reall
: handsome ornament for a mantl
piece. SdUdlts say that the fore;
standing here was ages ago immerse
; in water, and that the petrifactio
took place while so immersed.
B Mr.. Brannan, to preserve some {
the hest specimens Of this forest, hs
had hauled to the grounds OF n.
I hstel in Calisfoga material for q sun
/, mer grotto. 1t is built IN the form
: a round pyramid, about eighteen fe'
. in height, and thirteen feet in circun
! ference at the base. The tree trun
: from which the reptile was taken W.
7 broken to a length Of about four and
I half feet. Its weight was so gre'
that it took the strength OF two yoB
of cattle to raise it TO q perpendicul'
position.
E Many scientific men have eXamii
ed the animal but are nOnplussed an
unable to classify it. \ gentleman
very anxious to obtain il for IL
Smithsonian Institute, but Mr.. Bral
l. nan wishes to retain it TO see how Ion
it will live. He has had 1t thr'
weeks. 1t eats nothing and has NJ
grown. Our Academy of scien'
Should endeavor to secure it for the
cabinet. 1t is at present in Mr.. Brai
mans Office on Montgomery street.
!. San Francisco Bulletin.