THREE EXTINCT SPECIES OF ELEPHANT. 255 
5, 6. Humerus. 
Of this bone the collection affords several well-marked specimens, two of which are repre- 
sented in P]. XLIX. One of these(fig. 26) is amongst the most perfect and instructive of all 
the bones collected in the Zebbug Cavern. It isa nearly complete left humerus, wanting 
only the proximal epiphysis and great part of the internal condyle with the corresponding 
part of the shaft above it. ‘The upper epiphysial surface, however, remains perfect and 
wholly uninjured; so that we may conclude that the capitular epiphysis was naturally de- 
tached. ‘The fractured surface at the inner condyle appears to be recent; and the bone 
has been broken obliquely across the shaft, and through the condyloid extremity 
probably at the same time; but the fragments having been carefully united, the integrity 
of the bone is very satisfactorily restored, with the exceptions above indicated. 
Although the upper epiphysis was not united, there is no trace whatever remaining of 
the line of junction of the lower epiphysis, not even on the exposed fractured surface. 
Nor is there a trace left of the non-ossification of the epiphysial cartilage on the supinator 
ridge, which is late in becoming completed in the Elephant; we may conclude, conse- 
quently, that the animal to which the bone belonged had nearly, if not quite, reached 
its full maturity and stature. And the maturity of its age, at any rate, may also be 
inferred from the deep and strong muscular impressions, and from the density and 
weight &c. of the bone generally. ‘The specimen, as it is, measures 9 inches in length— 
that is to say, from the highest point of the upper epiphysial surface to the lowest 
point on the condyloid extremity. But from its various dimensions, which will be found 
in the Table, its length when entire may be estimated at about 12 inches, which would 
give a height of about 3 feet to the Elephant to which it belonged. According to the 
same data I estimate the antero-posterior diameter of the head at 2’°2, which is exactly 
proportionate also to the length of the head in Z. melitensis, when that dimension is 
measured in relation to the antero-posterior diameter of the upper epiphysial surface. 
As the part which is wanting in the present specimen is precisely that of which we have 
so excellent an example in the upper extremity of the humerus of LF. melitensis (fig. 22), 
rosity ; and, 4th, the form of the acromial end of the spine, which, so far as I know, is always hooked over, as it 
were. This peculiarity in the Maltese scapula is shown in the subjoined figure, in which the spine is repre- 
sented in a vertical position. 
