314 TAPTIROIDA. 
more unequivocally decided by the evidence of a smaller 
premolar tooth anterior to the entire one figured, (fig. 108, 
p 1,) shewn by the remains of the posterior fang, and 
the socket of the anterior fang, which are fortunately 
preserved in the fragment of the lower jaw adhering to the 
entire tooth. In the true Tapirs, both recent and fossil,* 
only the first of the molar series has the compressed 
modification of the crown exemplified by the tooth (fig. 
108, p 2); the second presents the normal quadrate crown 
with the two transverse ridges. In the Lophiodon, the 
latter structure is manifested only by the last three teeth, 
or the true molars; the compressed form being retained by 
all the three anterior or premolars, the first of which is 
very small and simple, but implanted by two fangs: the 
preserved fang and socket of the tooth that preceded the 
entire premolar in the fossil under consideration, indicate 
the small size characteristic of the first premolar of a Lo- 
phiodon, and the form of a crown of the second premolar 
in place, leaves only one other question for consideration 
before deciding upon its reference to Lophiodon or Tapir. 
Both the first and second of the deciduous series of mo- 
lars of the lower jaw of the young Tapir present the com- 
pressed, subtriangular form of crown exemplified by the 
fossil tooth (fig. 108, p 2); and, though there are well- 
marked differences in the details of configuration, it 
might be argued that this small fossil tooth was the se- 
cond deciduous molar of an extinct species of Tapir. This 
objection, however, is met by the facts, that the second 
deciduous molar of the Tapir, when its crown has been 
as much used in mastication as the tooth in fig. 108, has 
shorter and more divergent fangs; and that in the same 
extent of jaw as is preserved with the fossil, there would 
* Tapir priscus, Kaup, Tapir A vernensis, Croizct. 
