340 



tion of its structure. This is found to exist; the lower jaw being so 

 rounded off in the front, as to allow of its motion behind the descending 

 alveoli. Both these circumstances are observable in the fossil jaws exa- 

 mined by M. Cuvier, and also in two portions which I obtained from 

 Essex. 



This structure must have materially affected the form of the face and 

 the organization of the trunk, and must have given the animal a very 

 different appearance from that which is borne by the Asiatic elephants. 

 It must be, however, admitted, that the jaw-bone mentioned by M. 

 Adrien Camper shows, that there does exist an elephant which possesses 

 certain characters different from those of the known living species, and 

 approaching to those which at present mark the fossil species. M. Adrien 

 Camper, it must be added, informs his friend Cuvier, that he possesses a 

 jaw-bone of an elephant of Ceylon, which differs much from the other 

 recent jaws which he has seen, and very closely agrees in its dimensions 

 with the fossil jaw-bones. 



Comparing together the bones of the Asiatic and of the African ele- 

 phant, he was able to discover some differences between them, as well as 

 between those and some of the fossil bones which he possessed. These 

 latter he found, in general, approached nearest to those of the Asiatic 

 elephant. He concludes with supposing .that the fossil remains are of a 

 species differing more widely from the Asiatic elephant than the horse 

 does from the ass, and therefore does not think it impossible but that 

 it might have existed in a climate which would have destroyed the ele- 

 phant of India. 



It may therefore be assumed as certain, from the observations of M. 

 Cuvier, that at least one species of elephants has existed, of which none 

 are now known living ; and should the difference of structure which I 

 have pointed out, in some of the fossil teeth, be admitted as sufficient to 

 designate a difference of species, it may be then said, that there exist the 

 fossil remains of, at least, two species of elephants, which were different 

 from those with which we are acquainted. 



