THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 99 
states of preservation to having been surrounded in a stalagmitic red soil, whilst the 
other members of the same foot decayed away in the looser material around them. The 
above fig. 3 is altogether a much stouter bone than D type, and in outline resembles the 
members of A type. Its proximal facet is like that of the African, with even sides. The 
unciform-surface is flat, sloping outwards. Length 31 inches, breadth of midshaft 1-7, 
depth internally 1:1, depth of posterior articular surface 2, unciform-facet 1°8 by 1:6, 
third-metacarpal facet 1:5 by -6, fifth-metacarpal facet 1:2 by °5, anterior articular sur- 
face 1:7 by 1-7. 
It is evident that the owner of figs. 3 and 4 must have possessed a short and 
broad foot. 
The same element of the hind foot is still more various, and not only as regards size, 
but in characters even of specimens that do not differ in other particulars. At all 
events there are seemingly remarkable diversities in these respects in connexion with the 
middle toes; but probably a large series of recent specimens would show like individual 
discrepancies. ‘Thus in one out of four specimens of the fourth metatarsal, all of which, 
as regards size, are about equal, I find the cuboidal facet, instead of being concave 
laterally as in the Asiatic, is convex towards its outer side for a deeper depression in the 
opposing surface; so that we have the characters, as it were, of the two recent animals 
in the large form. Of course, did these bones show evidences of youth, the diagnosis 
would be of no value; but, like all the others I am describing, they are the remains of 
full-grown and aged individuals. 
A Type.—tThe perfect right fourth metatarsal shown in Pl. XX. fig. 4 is the one just 
referred to. What has been stated as regards the outline of the proximal articulating 
surface in the recent animals is, as far as the African species, well represented in this 
specimen, only that the dorsal surface is not so rounded. The dimensions of three of the 
specimens are the same; two from Mnaidra Gap belong to the right, whilst the other 
from Gandia Fissure is of the left hind foot. The following are the dimensions 
of Pl. XX. fig 4:—length 3:1 inches; breadth, middle of shaft, 1:6; depth internally 
at middle of shaft 1; depth of posterior articular aspect 2 inches; cuboidal surface 1:6 
(depth) by 1:9; third metatarsal facet -9 by -6; fifth metatarsal facet 1-1 by ‘5; ante- 
rior articular surface 1-7 by 1:7. There are, moreover, irrespective of what has just 
been pointed out in connexion with the cuboidal aspect, differences in the contours of 
these three bones which make me almost doubt the value of the diagnosis I have noted 
between the African and Asiatic; nevertheless, in attempting to correlate the characters 
of these diversified elephantine bones, it seems requisite that all individual distinctions 
should be noted. Referring to the forms of the specimens in question, whilst fig. 4 
resembles what I have pointed out as characters of the African, we find a second 
specimen, more slender, with a concave cuboidal facet and much of the outline of the 
Asiatic, and a third with a more concave tarsal aspect and still more concave outer 
and inner sides; at the same time it would be impossible to assign to either the cha- 
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