1. Staley, Champaign County.—In the collection at the University of Illinois the writer has seen a lower last molar recorded as having been found by John Early at a point 5.5 miles west and 1.5 miles south of Champaign, apparently not far from Staley. It is said to have been picked up by a dredge; hence probably in some ditching operations. The writer regarded the tooth as belonging to Elephas columbi.
Apparently this tooth was found very near the outer border of the Champaign moraine; hence the animal might have lived at any time after the deposition of this moraine. It is more probable, however, that this species did not affect such a cold environment, and haunted those regions when the climate had greatly ameliorated.
2. Stronghurst, Henderson County.—In the summer of 1914, Mr. John Shick discovered near Stronghurst, in a well, at a depth of 20 feet, four elephant teeth. A letter, with photographs of these teeth, sent to the U. S. Geological Survey, was shown the writer, who identified the teeth as belonging to Elephas columbi, apparently the second and third upper deciduous molars, right and left. They were reported to have been found in a dark soil. All the region about Stronghurst is occupied by Illinoian drift. Since at a depth of 20 feet an old soil was reached it becomes quite certain that this represents a pre-Illinoian interglacial deposit, probably the Yarmouth stage; and to that must be assigned the time of the elephant in question.
3. Chillicothe, Peoria County.—In the palæontological collection of the University of Iowa is a tooth of Elephas columbi, recorded as collected at Chillicothe by Fred Wachs. It was found in gravel, at a depth of 40 feet, but the exact locality is not known. The tooth is the first lower true molar.
It is impossible to determine the geological age of this tooth. Chillicothe is situated on Illinois River and within the area of the Wisconsin drift. The valley is filled with deposits brought down from the Wisconsin ice-sheet and by late alluvium; but at a depth of 40 feet there might possibly be some earlier gravels.
4. Chicago Heights, Cook County.—From J. H. Knapp, Chicago Heights, the writer has received photographs of a lower hindermost molar of Elephas columbi, found in Second Creek, 2.5 miles east of Chicago Heights. This locality is situated on the Valparaiso moraine and we must refer the time of the existence of the elephant to the Late Wisconsin stage.
5. Pawpaw, Lee County.—In the collection of the palæontological department of the University of Nebraska the writer saw a lower molar of Elephas columbi (apparently the left second), found at Pawpaw. It was presented by Dr. M. H. Everett, of Lincoln, Nebraska. There are present 19 ridge-plates, and there are 7 plates in a 100–mm. line.
On inquiry by the writer Mr. Frank Wheeler, of Pawpaw, furnished detailed information. In constructing an ice-pond there was found at a depth of 4 feet parts of both hip-bones, a femur 4 feet 4 inches long, some much decayed foot-bones, some vertebræ and ribs, and the head and lower jaw. The head is said to have been nearly 3 feet long and the lower jaw 26 inches long. In the latter were two huge teeth. It appears that the forelegs were present, but much decayed. No tusks were found, nor any upper teeth. It was concluded that the animal was 22 feet 6 inches long and between 15 and 16 feet high; but the dimensions were undoubtedly exaggerated. Certain “streaks and mossy fibers” led to the conclusion that the animal had been covered with a coat of hair. It is probable that all of these remains except the tooth in Lincoln have been lost. Undoubtedly, had an expert in exhuming such skeletal remains been called in there might have been rescued a large part of the skeleton. Up to this time no good skeleton has been secured of E. columbi.
The place where the skeleton was found is in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 37 north, range 2 east. This is situated on a member of the Bloomington morainic system, a moraine left by the Wisconsin ice-sheet. It is evident, therefore, that the skeleton of the elephant had, during some Late Wisconsin time, fallen in a pond and become slowly covered up.