PREFACE. 



IT is gratifying to record the completion of Part IV. of this Cata- 

 logue ; for although it embraces only a single Suborder of the 

 Ungulata the Proboscidea yet the remains of this group (which 

 holds so distinct a position amongst the " hoofed quadrupeds ") are 

 represented by so large and remarkable a collection of specimens aa 

 to be without a rival in any Museum. 



This excellence is chiefly due to the grand collections from the 

 Siwaliks of India, presented by Sir Proby T. Cautley (described by 

 Dr. Hugh Falconer) ; the series of remains of Dinotlierium and 

 Mastodon, from Eppelsheim, &c. (described by Dr. Kaup) ; the fine 

 collection of American Mastodons from the United States and from 

 South America ; the unrivalled British series of Mammoth-remains 

 from the Thames Valley Brick-earth, the Dogger-Bank, and nume- 

 rous other localities (described by Dr. Leith-Adams) ; and the unique 

 collection of Pygmy-Elephant remains from Malta (described by 

 Mr. George Busk, F.R.S., and Dr. Leith-Adams). 



Nor are the facts relative to the almost world-wide geographical 

 distribution of the Proboscidea in past times devoid of interest for 

 the Paleontologist, coupled as they are with a singular absence of 

 those intermediate types which might suggest lines of connection 

 with the less aberrant forms of Ungulata. The present volume 

 seems therefore to form an important addition to our knowledge 

 of this most interesting group, to which the special attention of 

 Biologists may well be directed. 



HENRY WOODWARD. 



British Museum 



(Natural History), 



Department of Geology, 



November 16, 1886. 



