The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-29
RARE BONES, THESE.
Skeleton Of the Megalonyx Jefiersonll
Placed in the Museum Of the Ohio
State Unlversity...Named by
and for President,

Columbus, o., Letter, Chicago Record.
One Of the rarest specimens Of post
glacial life ever found Is that of the
''megalonyX jeffersonni," which has re-
Gently been placed in the museum of
Orton hall of the Ohio state university.
The specimen enjoys the unique dis
tinction Of beingk the only animal ever
named by and for q president Of the
United States. Thomas Jefferson in
vented the generic name ''megalonyx,"
while the specific name was given by
DR.. Harlan at a later date in honor Of
Jefferson's discrimination and interest.
In 1896 some bones Of an extraorin-
airy nature were found in q cave in
Greenbrier county, Virginia. They ex-
cited a great deal of curiosity and dis
cussion and in some way came to the
knowledge Of Thomas Jefferson, soon to
be made president Of the United States,
whose interest in all that pertained to
nature was generally recognized.
One of the most striking features of
the cave relies was the enormous claws
Of the animal, which Jefferson, by an
error that was readily pardoned, mis-
took the claws Of a carnivorous animal,
and upon them he established the name
by which the animal is known. The
small Latin and less Greek" with
which William and Mary college had
equipped him was enough for the oc-
casion. Two Green words, in fact suf-
feed. and "megalonyx" (great claw
emerged into the world OF letters and
science.
President Jefferson acquired possess
lon of the remains and presented them
to the newly establisher American
Philosophical society, Philadelphia,
which was. at that time, the most au-
thoritative scientific center of the coun-
try. These bones still remain in the
possession of the Academy of Science
in the same city.
Subsequently study by the natural
lists Of Philadelphia soon established
the fact that the great claws and asso-
ciated bones belonged, not to a car
nivora, but to some representative Of
the strange and wandering group in
which the sloths of South America are
included. The specific name "Jeffersonii"
was very properly added at a later date
in honor Of the president.
The Philadelphia specimen was never
set up. many Of the bones being missing
and the Ohio specimen is the only COM
plete one In the world. The university
museum has this great distinctions: 1t
contains the first and only complete
skeleton of one of the most interest
ing animals of post-glacial time.
HISTORY OF THE SPECIMEN.
The history Of the skeleton is as fol-
lows: In the fall of 1890 number Of
farmers in Benton township, Holmes
county, combined to dig ditch which
would drain swamp Of 300 acres, more
or less, in which they were severally
interested. In December the ditch had
reached the land Of Abraham Drushell
and the cutting was going on success
fully through four to six feet of black
peaty earth. which covered foot or
two of shell mari, when the workmen
were greatly surprised by unearthing
some large bones of unfamiliar pattern.
The greatest interest was awakened
among the farmers engaged in cutting
the ditch and among their neighbors
also. Some Of the bones, including
sevral claws, were carried to Millers-
burg. and right Interpretation was at
once put upon them there by w. s..
Hanna, the prosecuting attorney of the
county. He pronounced them the bones
of "megalonyx."
Extravagant ideas Of the money
value Of the discovery took possession
OF the farmers minds and nothing
could be done for some years toward