THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 31 
B Series (thick-plated)—The series I shall now describe comprehends several teeth 
remarkable for their small size and the thickness of their plates and enamel. 
1, The most suggestive instances have been figured and described by Falconer as the 
last lower true molars of his E. melitensis’. Two of his specimens (figs. 12 & 13) 
display the fan-shape or reclinate aspect of the last few ridges, as seen in Pl. VI. fig. 1 of 
A series, and one of them a peculiarity, or rather a diseased condition of wear, observed 
occasionally in domesticated elephants. The most perfect, however, is shown in fig. 11. 
This long narrow and very thick-plated molar holds eleven ridges in 4 inches. The 
front fang has evidently been ground away, and with it not only three ridges but pos- 
sibly part of the succeeding ; thus, allowing for their loss, it was surmised by Falconer 
that the crown originally held twelve or thirteen ridges, in a space, I calculate, of about 
54 inches, which brings the molar nearly to the dimensions of Pl. VI. fig. 1. And also, 
like the penultimate molars (Pl. V. fig. 1), it displays a very long and narrow crown, 
with the plates separated by much intervening cement. Three molars equivalent to 
the above are represented in my collection by the right and left specimens of the same 
individuals Nos. 35 A & B (Pl. IX. figs. 1, la & 2, and Pl. II. fig. 10). None of these, 
unfortunately, is entire. 
The first shows a tooth in place, and the fellow of the other ramus detached. ‘The 
lower jaw which held them lay close to a portion of the vertebral column (PI. XI. fig. 9), 
of which two of the vertebre are seen also in Pl. IX. figs. 3 & 4. The fragment of the 
molar No, 15 (Pl. II. fig. 10) was also discovered along with the above. Whether or 
not these molars are referable to the last of the series of a dwarf elephant, there can be 
no question whatever as to the matured state of the vertebra, seeing that all their 
epiphyses are completely consolidated, as will be further noted when I come to describe 
them. 
Reverting to the right ramus, Pl. IX. fig. 1, it is unfortunately imperfect, but 
sufficiently complete to show that the molar extends far back near to the angle of the 
jaw; the septum ¢ is well seen in the figures. On the inner aspect the dental canal 
has been laid open, showing a fragment of the triangular-shaped plug running up 
towards its opening. The infiltration of calcareous matter into this porous osseous 
substance, however, has considerably obscured the original character; but no capsule 
or hollow cavity is apparent therein, such as obtains in alveoli of all intermediate 
teeth, even when-the crown of the molar in its immediate front is commencing wear ; 
and considering that here only four of the last collines are entire, I think, under the 
circumstances, there should have been indications of a succeeding molar in the above 
situation.. It is impossible, however, to be positive on this point, in consequence of the 
loss of substance. 
Reverting to the molars, the more perfect (figs. 1 & 1a), I calculate, holds ten ridges 
in 4°5 inches; it will be seen that the first disk on fig. 1 @ is worn to the enamel- 
Zool. Trans. vol. vi. pl. 53, figs, 11, 12, and 13. 
