THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 21 
me to exceed other upper molars in both collections with regard to the following—viz. 
the greater height of the crowns, the length as compared with the breadth of the 
crown, and the thinness of the enamel and plates’. To what position in the dental 
series do they therefore belong? Are they the opposing molar to the narrow-crowned 
teeth (Pl. VI. fig. 5, and Pl. V. fig. 2) which we have just seen carry the same number 
of ridges in a space of 4:2 inches? 
In the thinness of the enamel and absence of crimping on the macherides of well- 
worn disks the two are precisely alike. The plates of the lower molars are much 
thicker. This, however, does obtain more or less in the lower jaw, just as the crown is 
narrower by a good deal. 
As regards relative length, it is nothing uncommon to meet with much discre- 
pancy in this respect between upper and lower first true molars, to even a greater 
extent than in the above. Lastly, in the short, stumpy outline of the upper Zebbug 
molar, with the pronounced pressure-hollow below its posterior talon, made by the 
advancing septum, we find precisely the same conditions in other species of Elephant, 
and in Pl. III. fig. 3, which I have assigned to the same position in the dental series 
of the largest form’. 
D Series.—The perfect and highly suggestive upper molar No. 61 (Pl. III. figs. 4, 
4a, & 4b) contains ten ridges in 3:2 inches. There is a well-defined pressure-scar on 
the enamel of the anterior talon, 0°6 by 0°8 inch in breadth, which equals the base 
posteriorly of the largest upper penultimate milk-molar (Pl. I. fig. 13). The talons 
here are well shown. ‘he crown, just commencing wear, has not the pattern well 
developed; but in No. 65 (Pl. IV. figs. 2 & 2a), which doubtless belongs to the same 
series, we find a half-worn crown displaying decided mesial expansions, slight tendencies 
to angulation, with faint crimping extending even to the cornua. These characters 
are continued in the still more attrited crowns of Nos. 13 & 52 of the Collection. ‘The 
fangs are well shown in No. 65, Pl. IV. fig. 2; and the posterior pressure-slope (@) is 
also exceedingly clearly defined. The rugosities or digitations of the collines are 
excessive, extending to the posterior talon, as seen in Pl. ITI. fig. 44, where the investing 
cement has been purposely removed. “This latter character is common also to the largest 
penultimate milk-teeth, as shown by Pl. I. fig. 14. 
The lower molar referable to this type is, I apprehend, well shown in No. 49 (Pl. III. 
figs. 5 & 5a). As regards relationship I scarcely think there can be a doubt of the 
1 The thickness of the enamel on the crown of Falconer’s figure (Trans. Zool. Soe. vol. vi. pl. 53. fig. 9) is 
exaggerated. I have compared the actual specimens with Pl. II. fig. 9, with which its macherides agree very 
closely. 
2 There is, moreover, this character, almost peculiar to first true molars: viz. the tooth is generally very much 
broader at the base of the crown than other members ; and although they vary much in size individually, the 
specimens collectively of all first true molars, upper especially, seem to be shorter and stumpier teeth than any 
other of the intermediate members. 
