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On the Ossiferous Caverns at Oreston

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2016

Henry C. Hodge
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Extract

To the thick-skinned quadrupeds belong animals of at least four genera—Elephant, Rhinoceros, Horse, and Hog.

In addition to the large grinders of the mammoth, before described, there occurred a remarkable molar tooth of a very young mammoth (length or anteroposterior diameter of the crown one inch and three-quarters, breadth one inch and one-eighth), containing six plates; it appears to belong to the “thick-plated” variety, but is unlike any of the numerous small grinders of this animal, contained in the British Museum and elsewhere, with wnich it has been carefully compared.

The larger molars of the rhinoceros were all fragmentary; but a small tooth, having its enamel equally thick with that of the larger specimens, may, it is presumed, belong to a small species of that animal.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Geologist , Volume 3 , Issue 9 , September 1860 , pp. 343 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1860

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References

page 344 note * Since the above has been written, I have had an opportunity of comparing these fragments with teeth of similar form, from the Sewalik hills, in the north of India, contained in the Museum of Marischal College, Aberdeen; and I am indebted to the kindness of Professor Owen fur further confirmation of the opinion that the teeth are really those of a species of fossil giraffe. The Museum at Aberdeen contains numerous other fossils and caste of jaws with teeth, from the same locality. From an inspection of these, I feel also justified in concluding that two other pre-molars found at Oreston belong to a species of fossil camel. These facts will, if fully confirmed, place on record the (I believe) first instance of remains of these interesting genera having been found in Britain, and also tend to indicate their extensive geographical range during the geological period under consideration.