Page:The Geologist, volume 5.djvu/77



The existence of a fossil species of true elephant distinct from Elephas primigenius in America has been only of late years brought under the notice of palæontologists. I have slightly alluded to the subject in the 'Geologist,' Vol. IV. p. 470. For many years remains of true Elephant have been found with those of Mastodon at various spots within the New World.

Cuvier ('Ossements Eossiles,' ed. 1834, vol. ii. p. 145) mentions only one species of American elephant, the remains of which had been discovered in Kentucky, Carolina, Ohio, Mexico, Louisiana, Virginia, and Maryland.

De Blainville ('Ostéographie,' Eléphans, p. 157: Atlas, pl. x.) alludes to a tooth of fossil elephant from Texas, which is apparently referable to Elephas primigenius. He also mentions other remains from Mexico, Mississippi, Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Behring's Straits.

Leidy ('Nebraska Fauna,' 1852, p. 9) recognizes specific distinction between the European and American species of elephant, and terms the latter E. Americanus.

Humboldt ('Cosmos,' vol. i. p. 280) alludes to certain elephantine remains from the Mexican plateau, but gives no description which might identify the species.

Dr. Carpenter (Silliman's Journal, 2nd series, vol. i. p. 244) describes a collection of elephant and mastodon remains, collected by Mr. William Huff, from the banks of the Brazos river, near San Felipe de Austin (Texas), some of which are at present in the British Museum. Through the kindness of Mr. G. R. Waterhouse, I have been enabled to identify them as those originally alluded to by Dr. Carpenter.

The most complete, elaborate, and philosophical conspectus of the affinities of the Order Proboscidea has been that from the pen of Dr. Falconer (Quarterly Journal Geographical Society, 1857, p. 319, and 1858, p. 81), in which he distinctly recognizes an American species of elephant (Euelephas Columbi), which he says has hitherto been undescribed. He places this apart from Euelephas primigenius, in the same group as E. Indicus and Armeniacus, of which group he discriminates the character as having "Colliculi approximati, machæridibus valde undulatis." The detailed exposition of his memoir has not been published up to February, 1862, although it was read on June 3, 1857.

Mr. William Bollaert, F.R.G.S., who has contributed original memoirs on the geography of Texas to the Geographical Society (Journal, 1851, vol. xx. p. 115), mentions the fact that he was the discoverer of a tooth of "Mastodon" from San Felipe de Austin, Texas. This tooth was carefully preserved by him, and was submitted to me