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The Lenawee Mastodon

The Lenawee Mastodon image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
June
Year
1864
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Trof. Winclicll of the State University, aceompaDied by Rev. B. Cocker of Ann Arbor and Dr. Rynd of this city visited the farm of Mr Decker of Wolf Creek on Monday last, and examined wliat remains of the mastodon of which we spoke a few days Binee. The Professor made a careful investigaron of that portion of the skeleton w hich Mr Decker has secured, and also of the "ditch" in which it was found. He has dissipated certain rumors, and set at rest many conflieting statements in reférence to the nature of the animal of which we have this reoniant. The remains are those of a young mastodon - not nearly full grown. This is proven by the amall size of the tusks, and by the existence of the epiphyses in a detaehed condition. In this young subject the joiut ends of the long bones are united to their respective shafts by an intervening cartil" age. In skeletons, or fossil remains of young animáis, these epiphyses are found detached, as 'the cartilaginous union, being of a leps dense and compact nature than the bone, is more easily decomposed - becomes obliterated, leaving the joint end detached from the shaft. These detached portions are evidently what the correspondent of the Adveríiser calis "knee-caps." Only two vertebras have been found, and these, from their small size, belonged to the tail. The Professor estimates that only one-fourth of the skeletoü bas been found. That part of the animal which was uppermost was decomposed by its long exposure to atmospheric influences, &c; henee thg spinal column is gonc with nearly the whole of the body. The crown of the teeth was found in a good stata of preservation, which fact is jeadily acconnted for by taking into consideration the impervious nature of the enamel. The fangs, or roots, were gone. A large portion of the remaius now in Mr D's possesion are in a poor state of preservation ; are in fact, erumbling to dust as they becorae thoroughly dry. Other portions again - such bones as have a very dense, compact shell, are in a tolerable good condition. The utmost care, however, will be necessary to preserve it. The only skeleton in this country which comes cearly up to the point of porfection is that owned ly Dr. Warren of Boston, which was found in a marsby piece of ground in Newburg on the Hudson, during a very dry season. Eor further information in reference to this skeletoü, and also the general faats as to the nature, &c, of this animal, we the curious among our readers to the article "Maatodon" in the American Cyclopedia. Many portions of skeletons have been found in varioua parts of the country, some of which have been scattered to the winds and lost to science, while in other instances they hare in the museums eonnecttd with institutions of learuing, and have thus become a source of pleasant curiosity to ordiuary visitors, and ofprofound study and contcmplation to men of science. Some 12 or 14 years since a part of a skeleton was found aear Oak wood Cemctry, of which we believe there is nota vetige remaining. We should regret esceedingly were such to prove the case in this instance. We trust it will bo secured by some of our institutions which have the means of taking care of it, i. e. if satisfactory negotiations can be made with Mr. Decker. We understand he values it at $1,000. We only hope that his very sanguine and pleasant anticipations may be realized, while we take the liberty of very greatly doubting

Article

Subjects
Mastodons
Old News
Michigan Argus