1884.] 



NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



23 



second year, and mature in thii-ty years, when they are not over 

 eleven feet high. Toward the equator the height decreases but 

 the tusks lengthen. 



The young of E. hidicus are born with a coat of wool. In 

 the elevated districts of Northern India, and in Sumatra, the 

 young are more hairy than in warmer regions. 



Description of the Mammoth [Elephas j^rimigenitis). — This 

 is the most highly specialized species : the '* king of elephants." 

 It is closelj' related to E. hidicus, some naturalists regarding 

 the species as a variation of Lidicus produced by climate, food, 

 etc. The tusks had g-reater and varvino; curvature. The skull 

 had great length and perpendicularity in the sockets for the 

 tusks, the long alveoli giving a strange physiognomy. The 

 head was long, occiput high, forehead concave and nearly ver- 

 tical. Molars were variable, wider than in Imlicus, lower ones 

 parallel; ridges closer, lines straighter. The hair was of three 

 kinds: (a) coarse, brown, horse-hair like, 12-15 inches long; (b) 

 delicate, fa^vn colored, 9-10 inches; (c) fawn-colored wool, fine, 

 4-5 inches. In size, stouter and clmnsier than modern elephants, 

 but not taller in general. Habitat: most numerous furthest 

 north ; not found in the elevated districts, and not south of 40"^ 

 N. Lat. ; found in Italy. Their fossils are very abundant in 

 some parts of Siberia. Several varieties are noted, according 

 to the thickness of the enamel ridges ; the thin-plated variety 

 found northward. 



Comparison of the Prohoscidia. 



