Castroides. Skull of the giant Pleistocene beaver (top) compared with the skull of the living form. The history of the beaver is typical of the history of many mammals in that the living forms are smaller than their leistocene predecessors. In general, the larger members of any fauna disappear in times of stress. Stokes, 1960, p. 444.

The Cypress Rock and Fossil Club fonds consists of records relating to club activity such as meeting minutes, the constitution, and various correspondence. The fonds also consists of catalogues, conference and show information for members, as well as newsletters from other related groups.

Disjunct distribution, evolution and mixing. Subspecies 'taeniata' is a salamander in Western Europe; 'salamandia' in Eastern Europe. Mixed in Germany where they can interbreed. Before glacial advances habitat was continuous, became divided by advancing ice into West and east area where evolution led to two distinct subspecies. When ice retreated, both subspecies followed north and met in mixed area where they can still interbreed.

Archaeology. Earliest drawings from the New World, showing mastodon, tapir and bison (McGowan and Hester, 1962, p. 172).

Extinction dates of the Pleistocene mammals in North America. More than half of these 16 mammals seem to have died out between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago. (McGowan and Hester, 1962, p. 196).

The fonds, related to the Cypress Rock & Fossil Club, were accumulated by the source. No other information was captured at the time of transfer to the Swift Current Museum.

The content has not been professionally appraised, arranged, or described. The following is a basic listing of the unprocessed contents:
-one box of documents relating to the Cypress Rock & Fossil Club

Megatherium, Pleistocene ground sloths. These are edentates characterised by unusually long large bodies anf lengths up to 20 feet. They occur in both North America and South America, the latest being contemporaries of early man. The name Megatherium means huge beast. Moore, 1958, p.551.

The fonds, related to the Cypress Rock & Fossil Club, were accumulated by the source. No other information was captured at the time of transfer to the Swift Current Museum.

The content has not been professionally appraised, arranged, or described. The following is a basic listing of the unprocessed contents:
Series 1:
Title: Treasurer’s records
Dates: 1970 - 1992
Extent: 5 cm textual records
Scope and content: Financial information 1970 – 1992; ledger; correspondence about rocks and gems; members directory 1969/73; receipt book; booklet “Saskatchewan Rockhounds”; booklet by Geological Survey Commission “Information for Collectors 1982”; pamphlet from Glendive, Montana; Gem and Mineral Federation of Canada; blank paper and envelopes with letterhead.

Series 2:
Title: Secretary’s records
Dates: 1960, 1966, 1983 - 1992
Extent: 15 cm textual records
Scope and content: series contains Gem and Mineral Federation of Canada newsletters, 1988-92; two Green’s Rock and Lapidary Ltd. catalogues; “Rockhound Roundup” newsletter 1989; correspondence; booklet by Geological Survey Commission “Information for Collectors 1988”; handwritten minutes 1983-1992; copies of the 1966 Constitution; Saskatchewan Archaeological Artifact Registration Program; “Cab & Crystal” magazine, 1990; North Dakota travel information; Alberta Palaeontological Society; Prairie Rock & Gem Society Constitution, 1960; Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies Show & Convention, 1988; blank paper and envelopes with letterhead.

Items: a wooden gavel, a butter knife, and a “Cypress Rock & Fossil Club” stamp.

Woolly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius. Best known and most characteristic animal of the Ice Age. The elephant, about 12 feet in average height was characterised by its relatively large head and unusually long curved tusks. Its body was covered by long, dense hair. Specimens found in frozen ground of Siberia and abundant remains occur in North America. Moore, 1958, p. 550.