ft<^ Membir upon living and fossil Elepkantsx 



^cRfcrcnt in the size of the tusks is compensated by a greater 

 thickness in the osseous substance of the alveolus. The 

 Teason is, that the alveolus, serving as a base and a socket 

 f6r the muscles of the proboscis, could not shrink as well 

 as the tusks, without the proboscis losing the strength and 

 thickness which is necessary for it. 



Lastly, There is a little variety in the length of the alveoli; 

 and, what is very remarkable, even without any reference 

 with that of the tusks. Our large mookna skeleton has 

 riiem longer than our two dauntelahs, although its tuska 

 are the smallest of all. To conclude, — this increase in length 

 does not exceed an inch. 



It could not be considerable without the organisation of 

 the proboscis being essentially changed, because the mus- 

 cles of its lower part are inserted under the lower edge of 

 the alveoli of the tusks, and those in the upper part are in 

 the front, above the bones of the nose. The base of the 

 proboscis has therefore necessarily for its Vertical diameter 

 the distance between these two points ; and if the alveoli 

 are prolonged beyond a certain measure, the proboscis would 

 assume a monstrous size. 



It is very important to notice this article, because it fur- 

 nishes the most distinctive character of the fossil elephant. 



If we compare together the small number of figures of 

 elephants* skulls found in the works of naturalists, I do not 

 think any stronger differences will be found than those I 

 have riientioned. 



The table annexed to the succeeding article expresses 

 ^ese differences by numbers. 



A celebrated author has supposed a difference between 

 the crania of males and females, which we have not men- 

 tioned, but he has been deceived by simple external ap- 

 pearances. 



Our small mookna from Ceylon had, at the root of the 

 proboscis, a very perceptible protuberance, which the female 

 bad not. M.^ Faujas, imagining that this protuberance be* 

 longed to the osseous parts, has represented these two 

 heads in PI. xii. of his Essais de Geologic, *' In order to 

 avoid/' he says, p. 238, <* falling into an error, when we 



find 



