Geological Observations on South AmericaDarwin, Charles
Science
Geological Observations on South America
Darwin, Charles
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Geology -- South America; Mollusks, Fossil -- South America; Paleontology
following fossils:—Remains of three or four individuals of Megatherium;
of three species of Glyptodon; of three individuals of the Mastodon
Andium; of Macrauchenia; of a second species of Toxodon, different from
T. Platensis; and lastly, of the Machairodus, a wonderful large
carnivorous animal. M. d’Orbigny has lately received from the Recolate
“Voyage” Pal. page 144), near Buenos Ayres, a tooth of Toxodon
Platensis.
Proceeding northward, along the west bank of the Parana, we come to the
Rio Luxan, where two skeletons of the Megatherium have been found; and
lately, within eight leagues of the town of Luxan, Dr. F. X. Muniz has
collected (“British Packet” Buenos Ayres September 25, 1841), from an
average depth of eighteen feet, very numerous remains, of no less than,
as he believes, nine distinct species of mammifers. At Areco, large
bones have been found, which are believed, by the inhabitants, to have
been changed from small bones, by the water of the river! At Arrecifes,
the Glyptodon, sent to the College of Surgeons, was found; and I have
seen two teeth of a Mastodon from this quarter. At S. Nicolas, M.
d’Orbigny found remains of a Canis, Ctenomys, and Kerodon; and M.
Isabelle (“Voyage” page 332) refers to a gigantic Armadillo found
there. At S. Carlos, I heard of great bones. A little below the mouth
of the Carcarana, the two skeletons of Mastodon were found; on the
banks of this river, near S. Miguel, I found teeth of the Mastodon and
Toxodon; and “Falkner” (page 55) describes the osseous armour of some
great animal; I heard of many other bones in this neighbourhood. I have
seen, I may add, in the possession of Mr. Caldcleugh, the tooth of a
Mastodon Andium, said to have been found in Paraguay; I may here also
refer to a statement in this gentleman’s travels (volume 1 page 48), of
a great skeleton having been found in the province of Bolivia in
Brazil, on the R. de las Contas. The furthest point westward in the
Pampas, at which I have HEARD of fossil bones, was high up on the banks
of R. Quinto.
In Entre Rios, besides the remains of the Mastodon, Toxodon, Equus, and
a great Dasypoid quadruped near St. Fe Bajada, I received an account of
bones having been found a little S.E. of P. Gorda (on the Parana), and
of an entire skeleton at Matanzas, on the Arroyo del Animal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account