THEEE EXTINCT SPECIES OF ELEPHANT. 291 



given above that only a single ridge and talon have been broken off at either end, the 

 perfect tooth would have presented eight ridges, besides talons. 



" Figs. 7 and 7 a represent, of the natural size, another fragment of a germ of the 

 same tooth, comprising four of the middle and posterior ridges. It was proportionally 

 smaller than fig. 8 ; but the form and size are irreconcilable with fig. 6 ; it is therefore 

 inferred to be a part of m.-m. 4 ; it presents no special characters for a description. 



" 5. True Molars. — The evidence above adduced from various instances of milk-molars 

 jointly goes to prove the former existence in Malta of a small form of Elephant : this 

 inference is fully corroborated by the remains of true molars ; and first, as regards those 

 of the lower jaw : — 



'■'■Lower True Molars. — Fig. 12 represents, of the natural size, a specimen comprising 

 the greater part of a lower molar of the right side. The anterior part of the crown. 



The crown part is entire, excepting a small portion of the anterior talon, which has been recently chipped off ; 

 it measures 2"-9 in length by l"'l in extreme width, which is at the second plate ; the greatest height (at the 

 7th plate) is l"-8.5. The length of the grinding-surfaoe is about 2" ; and on it are exposed the macharides of 

 part of the front talon and of six plates, together with the extreme point of a single median cusp of the seventh. 

 Only two of the plates, however, are worn into complete rings ; and the sixth presents no less than seven minute 

 anmili crowded into a space of 0""5. The tooth is composed of eight plates and an anterior and posterior talon, 

 i. e. of ten elements. The hinder end is hoUowcd and flattened below the talon ; but there is not the slightest 

 indication of pressure by a succeeding tooth, cither in this tooth, or in that shown in fig. 9. The average thick- 

 ness of the plates is about 0"-27; and, as far as can be seen in the few spots where the ccmentum has been removed 

 (apparently by attrition), the surface of the enamel is finely and irregularly fluted, and in some places, though 

 very rarely, an extremely faint indication of transverse wrinkling is exhibited, but by no means so clearly as in 

 the teeth shown in figs. 7, 8, 9. 



With respect to the position of this tooth in the series it is not very easy to arrive at any satisfactory deci- 

 sion. As I have said, it seems to resemble so closely in all respects that represented in fig. 8, that the two 

 may, I think, be safely regarded as corresponding teeth, difiering only in the degree of wear they have undergone. 

 The latter tooth is regarded by Dr. Falconer as the fourth upper milk-molar, and as representing an upper tooth 

 corresponding to the lower milk-molar, fig. 5. From its general characters, as regards its form and the thick- 

 ness of the plates, as shown more clearly in the entire tooth than in the fragment figured by Dr. Falconer, it will 

 also be seen to bear a strong resemblance to fig. 9, which tooth Dr. Falconer appears to have been inclined to 

 regard as the second true molar, though not certain that it might not be the first, which I think is equallv (if 

 not more) likely. 



We have to consider therefore whether the tooth described in this note, is m-ni. 4, or m. 1. 



First, with respect to its being m-m. 4 of the same species as m. 1, or m. 2, fig. 9. 



If we compare the relative lengths of the m-m. 4 and m. 1 in E. imUcus, they wiU he found on the average, 

 as regards length, to measure about 5"-l and 6"-6 respectively, or to stand in relation to each other as -772 to 

 1-000 ; in E. primigenius, 3"-6 and 5"-2, or as -692 to 1-000 ; in E. antiquus 5"-3 and 6"-7, or as •7!n to 1-000 : 

 and in E. meridioiuilis 4"-6 and 6"-2, or as -741 to 1-000 ; whilst the relative lengths of the tooth we are dis- 

 cussing and that shown in fig. 9 are 2"-0 and 3"-0, or nearly identical; and in fact, when it is remarked that 

 fig. 9 has an additional plate (r/), the other is actually quite as long, if not the longer. Again, if we take as the 

 term of comparison the thickness of the plates, it will be found to be nearly identical in the two teeth ; whilst 

 if we take the relative thickness of the plates in m-m. 4 and m. 1 in the above-named species of Elephant, a very- 

 considerable difierence vriU be found to exist. For instance in E. imliciis, the last milk-molar plates arc about 

 VOL. VI. — PART V. 2 S 



