ect. t, unfortunately lacked tJefferson  Sullivan tfully included a rack of antlers from an elk orstag ion t ttacead. er all, would know?

    Meany—naturalists o assemble t elep-like creature kno first as “t American incognitum” but lateridentified, not quite correctly, as a mammot of ta place called Big Bone Lick in Kentucky, but soon oturning up all over. America,it appeared, ruly substantial creature—one t ions.

    In to demonstrate tum’s bulk and ferocity, turalists appear to ly carried aimated its size by afactor of six and gave it frig came from a Megalonyx, or giantground slot ty and ferocity of tiger,” and portrayed it in illustrations as pouncingo prey from boulders. usks otive orer screusks in upsidedooot, isfyingly aggressive aspect.

    Anotusks so t t ture ic and o ancself to trees inent consideration about tum,  it appeared to be extinct—afact t Buffon cs incontestably degenerate nature.

    Buffon died in 1788, but troversy rolled on. In 1795 a selection of bones made to Paris, ology, tocratic Georges Cuvier. Cuvier akingiculated bones and  ure of an animal from a single tooten nameto t no one in America  to ea formal description of t, Cuvier did so, and ts officialdiscoverer.  a mastodon (eeth”).

    Inspired by troversy, in 1796 Cuvier e a landmark paper, Note on ts, in  time a formal tinctions.  from time to time tastropures . For religious people, including Cuvier able implications since it suggested an unaccountable casualness on t of Provi