2 
THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 55 
individual. Here the last six ridges are contained in a space of 4:6 inches, and the 
average of each plate is about 0:7 inch, which, supposing it held fourteen collines, would 
have made the original length about 9:5 inches. - The breadth of the central plate, a, 
is about 25 inches. The posterior talon is firmly attached to the last plate, which 
displays four large circular digitations (not three, as rendered in the figure); and yet, 
although thus far worn, there is no indication on the talon of the presence of an 
advancing tooth. ‘The disks show well-marked faint crimping and disposition to central 
expansion and angulation, with an abrupt bending forwards of their horns. The tusk 
found along with this tooth has been already referred to at page 9. 
It may be stated, as regards relative dimensions with the other last true molars, that 
the marked discrepancy between the members of C and D Series as regards thickness of 
plates is fully as great, if not more conspicuous than between the members of A and 
B Series. 
Summary.—1. Whether or not all the members of A Series represent the last true 
molar, it is clear to me that they belong to the same type or form. At all events it 
would appear clear that the upper molars, Nos. 86, 87 & 95, claim to be considered as 
belonging to the last of the dental series. ‘The latter, however, as compared with the 
teeth (Pl. V. fig. 1) which I have assigned to the second true molar of the smallest form, 
give a very small proportion indeed for second and third true molars; but considering 
that the enamel and plates of No. 95 are remarkably thin as compared with the upper 
teeth, it is just possible that it belonged to a small individual, male or female. 
2. The teeth represented in B Series have certain claims to be separated from the 
foregoing. In dimensions and outline they agree. I must, however, allow that there 
is a remarkable difference in the thickness of the plates and enamel, as in the absence of 
sculpturing on the latter; but otherwise it would be difficult to draw distinctions. The 
only likelihood that they belong to the same form as A Series is by discarding the thick 
plates as a cause of separation, which Dr. Falconer’ has done, believing that the upper 
Zebbug molar referred to in A Series and the lower Zebbug teeth of B Series are indi- 
vidual instances of what he considered to be the upper and lower last true molars of his 
Elephas melitensis. In this opinion as regards the thin and thick plates I am disposed to 
concur, applying the rule to them that obtains in the case of the Mammoth and Elephas 
antiquus. Consequently the last true molar of the smallest form may have ranged 
between 5 and 6 inches in length and held ordinarily fourteen ridges, 7. e. twelve plates 
and two talons—which in comparison with the Asiatic Elephant would place them with 
its last milk-molar, which holds the same ridge-formula in about the same space. 
3. The materials of C Series being for the most part entire renders the determination 
of their ridge-formula and crown-constituents a comparatively easy proceeding. If 
No. 42 (Pl. XI. fig. 10) is to be accepted as a penultimate true molar, there is every pro- 
bability that it was the predecessor of C Series. 
* Trans. Zool. Soc, yol. vi. p. 291. 
