. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. MAM3WTH, MASTODOy, AXI) DIXUTMEIilUM. 291 to the vast accumulation in the Arctic Sea, It was seen by a mere cliance, and must be viewed as an example of the method by which animal remains are swept seaward. In all probability, the frozen morass in which it was discovered is as full of Mammoths as the peat-bogs of Ireland are of Irish Elk, and have been the main source from which the Arctic i-ivers have obtained their supply of animal remains. The remains of the Mammoth ai-e met with in incredible numbei's in the river deposits of Middle an
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. MAM3WTH, MASTODOy, AXI) DIXUTMEIilUM. 291 to the vast accumulation in the Arctic Sea, It was seen by a mere cliance, and must be viewed as an example of the method by which animal remains are swept seaward. In all probability, the frozen morass in which it was discovered is as full of Mammoths as the peat-bogs of Ireland are of Irish Elk, and have been the main source from which the Arctic i-ivers have obtained their supply of animal remains. The remains of the Mammoth ai-e met with in incredible numbei's in the river deposits of Middle and Northern Europe, as well as in those of North America, showing that in ancient times the animal ranged over a tract of land from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Sea, and from Behring Strait to the Gulf of Mexico. It is also met with in the caves in Middle Europe, having been dragged into them by the Hyieuas, or having fallen a prey to tlie ancient hunter. AVe owe, indeed, to the skill of the latter an inci- sive sketch of the animal as he appeared to the inhabitants of Auvergne, in the i-emote geological period known as Pleisto- cene ; the long, hairy mane, and spirally-curved tusks, are faithfully depicted liy the artist, and, were it not for the strange chance which has preserved to us the whole animal in the frozen ice-cliffs of Siberia, would have seemed to us merely imaginative details. In another example, also from the caves of Auvergne, the Mammoth is repre- sented with his mouth open, and his trunk lifted up in the attitude of charging. Remains of other extinct species of Elephants are found ; one, which is of exceedingly small stature, standing not much higher than from two and a half to three feet, has been discovered in the bone-caves of Malta. The genus Mastodon, which in many respects resembles the true Elephants, diflers from them in the formation of the teeth, the gi-inders being much simpler, more tubercular, and with crowTis free from cement. In mo
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