the Mammoth has been discovered actually in existence in the western deserts of North America.

According to the descriptions given of it, this Colos. sus of the animal kingdom is not carnivorous, but lives on vegetables; more particularly on a certain species of tree, of which it eats the leaves, the bark, and even the trunk. It never lies down, and sleeps leaning for sup port against a tree. It has rather the shape of a wild boar than of an elephant, and is fifteen feet high. His body is covered by an hairy skin, and he has no horn.

One of the most extraordinary discoveries of modern times is the fossil, or petrified skeleton of a female, of about five feet two or three inches in height, on the Island of Guadaolupe; it is now preserved among the collections in the British Museum. Whether this be a real fossil, or a mere accidental incrustation, we must leave to the determination of those who have had the opportunity of investigation.

With the pious and energetic remarks of Mr. Parkinson, Author of Organic Remains, &c. we conclude this article:

"We cannot quit these monuments of former worlds," says Mr. P. "without alluding to the incontrovertible evidence they present of the exercise of Almighty Power and of the perpetual influence of a Divine Providence.

In the several formations composing the outer part of the earth down to the primitive rocks, vast accumula tions exist of the fossil remains of organised beings, va. rying in each formation. and essentially differing from those beings which now exist. The discovery of animals peculiar to certain formations, and the general agreement with each other of the fossils of the same formations, have led to the belief that these several formations were the consequences of successive changes effected on the earth's surface; and that their contained fossils are the preserved remains of the several creations which had been successively formed to accord with the state of the planet under its several changes.

The assumption of successive creations with accordant changes in the state of the planet, does not, indeed, agree

For the Editor's sentiments on this subject, the Reader is referred to page 174 Museum Asianum.

with the Mosaic account of the creation; at least, in its ordinary acceptation. The facts, however, appear to be as they are stated. May not the discordance depend on a misconception of the Sacred Writings? Once more, with submission and deference-may not the days of creation be considered as periods of long and indefinite duration?

This system of successive creations fitted to the existing or predestined state of the planet, appears, not only not to derogate from the wisdom and power of the Almighty, but to be perfectly in agreement with the agency of Providence as taught by the Divine Author of our religion. The world is seen, in its formation and continuance, constantly under the providence of Almighty God, without whose knowledge not one sparrow falls to the ground.

Under these impressions, we view the results of these several changes and creations as manifesting the prescience, the power, and the benevolence of our great Creator. The general form of the earth's surface, varied by the distribution of hills and vallies, and of land and water; the prodigious accumulations of coal derived from the vegetables of a former creation, with the accompanying slates and schists; the useful, durable, and often beautiful, encrinital and shelly limestones! the immense formations of chalk and flint, and the various series of clays; all demonstrate a careful provision for the wants of man. The several breaks and faults in the stratified massses, and the various inclination of the strata, as well as the vast abruptions by which these several substances are brought to the hand of man, may be regarded as most beneficent provisions resulting from catastrophes too vast and tremendous for human intellect to comprehend.

From these several creations it appears that beings have proceeded, gradually increasing in superiority, from testaceous animals to reptiles, marine and fresh water amphibia, quadrupeds, and lastly to man, who, in his turn, is destined, with the earth he inhabits, to pass away, and be succeeded by a new heaven, and a new earth."

EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, &c.

EVER since the discovery of the New World, it has been the opinion of Europeans in general, that the Animals of America are inferior in strength, fierceness, and courage, to Animals of the same name, or class, on the old Continents, on which subject, Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College, in his letters addressed to an English Gentleman, just published, observes:

"The native quadrupeds of this country have been so often enumerated and described, that it would be trifling with you to mention them again. It is commonly asserted by the zoologists of Europe, that America, by a mysterious and malignant influence, derived from I know not what, and exerted I know not how, diminishes the size and deteriorates the qualities of all animals, both native and imported. I beg leave to assure you, that New England comes in for no share of this charge. To an American it is amusing enough to see how far your writers have imbibed an opinion, which in its own nature sets probability at defiance. In Guthrie's Geography the following declarations have gone through fifteen editions:-"The caribou is the largest native animal in America, and is no bigger than a calf a year old." "The elk is a native of America, and is as big as a horse." Now whether a calf a year old is in Great Britain as big as a horse, or not, the editors of this work will undoubtedly claim a right to determine, to which I can make no pretensions, since I have never seen a British calf exactly of this age. In this country a horse is certainly much larger than such a calf; and hence I venture to conclude, that the caribou is not the largest native animal of America. Certainly he is not so large as the elk. I should judge from looking at this animal, of which I have seen several, that he would weigh from one thousand to eleven hundred pounds. The moose, which

In the twenty-third edition, the idea of inferiority is retained, but the absurdity is corrected.-ED.

is only a variety of the same kind, will probably weigh fourteen hundred pounds. A catalogue has been published by the Rev. Dr. Williams, in his History of Vermont, which very strongly illustrates the soundness of this philosophy. It is the following:

Weight in Europe. Weight in Vermont.

lbs. oz.

lbs. oz.

The weight of these animals in Europe is given by M. De Buffon, and will therefore not be questioned. That of the American animals is given by Dr. Williams, and may of course be regarded as undoubtedly just. You see that the comparison is not a little unfavourable to the eastern continent. If any conclusion is to be drawn from it, America is much more favourable to the growth of animals than Europe. At the same time you will remember, that the white pine and the cypress of this country are giants, in comparison with the trees of the eastern continent. What if we should turn the tables on you, and insist that your continent is grown too old to yield the productions of nature in their full size, while ours young, if you please, certainly vigorous, nourishes them to a state of comparative perfection? Besides, were you once to behold the skeleton of our mammoth, you would be struck with astonishment, and regard the animals of Europe as a collection of pigmies.

There was last year raised in a town bordering near us, an ox of the common breed, generally named the small

breed, in distinction from a larger heretofore common in this country, estimated by skilful judges to weigh alive three thousand five hundred pounds. There was also, a few weeks since, killed in the town where I reside, a hog, which weighed more than eight hundred and fifty pounds.

To give you my own opinion on this subject, I readily believe, that on both continents, if you choose the proper climate, species, and food, you may raise any of these animals to its full size. In the view of a sober American the contrary opinion, though dignified by the name of philosophy and made the subject of grave discusssions of grave men, ranks with the stories of Lilliput and Brobdingnag, and would be readily supposed to have had its origin in the island of Laputa."

NORTH AMERICAN ANIMALS & VEGETABLES.

THE ELK.

(Bingley's Animal Biography.)

THE legs of Elks are so long, and their necks so short, that they cannot, like other animals, graze on level ground, but are obliged to browse the tops of large plants, and the leaves or branches of trees. In all their actions and attitudes they appear very uncouth; and, when disturbed, never gallop, but escape by a rapid kind of trot. In their common walk they lift their feet very high, and they are able, without difficulty, to step over a gate five feet in height.

Elks are the easiest to tame and domesticate of any animals of the Deer kind. They will follow their keeper to any distance from home; and, at his call, will return with him, without the least trouble, and without ever attempting to deviate from the path.

An Indian, at the Factory at Hudson's Bay, had, in the year 1777, two Elks so tame, that, when he was on his passage to Prince of Wales's Fort, in a canoe, they always followed him along the bank of the river; and at night, or on any other occasion, when he landed, they generally came and fondled on him in the same