This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 Excerpt: ...One of these large cannon bones is complete and measures 30.5 centimeters in length, while a metatarsal of a fair sized modern horse, with which it is compared, measures but 27 centimeters. Other measurements show corresponding differences between the fossil and the domestic species. One of the teeth noted in the paper ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 Excerpt: ...One of these large cannon bones is complete and measures 30.5 centimeters in length, while a metatarsal of a fair sized modern horse, with which it is compared, measures but 27 centimeters. Other measurements show corresponding differences between the fossil and the domestic species. One of the teeth noted in the paper (figures 2, 4, plate 18) agrees in size with Equus pacificus Leidy. Tt is larger than the teeth of Equus scotti recorded by Gidley. Tt may be possible that this large tooth and these large cannon bones belong to a species larger than Equus srotli; bnt on the other hand it is possible that individuals varied, and that some of the animals belonging to the species Equus scotti may have exceeded "the size of the largest western pony." The solution of some of these questions must await additional evidence. Probably the most important of the recent additions to our knowledge of the Aftonian mammals comes in the form of two molars of Mammut mirificum, or Mastodon mirificus Leidy. These teeth were found in Aftonian gravel which was penetrated in digging a farm well near Akron, in Plymouth county, Towa. They are well worn down by use, and show the characteristic features of this remarkable species unusually well (plate 27). The teeth are the last of the upper molar series--one rierht, one left. With them were found portions of the tusks and a large number of pieces of the cavernous cranial bones. A part of the maxillary still adheres to the left molar. The left tooth measures 8% inches long and Z1/ inches wide across the second ridge. The right tooth is slightly smaller, 8V2 inches long, and the corresponding widths are also somewhat less. Leidy described the last lower molars of this species,18 and lie found a somewhat similar disproportion...
Read Less
