THREE EXTINCT SPECIES OP ELEPHANT, 297 



all present, but more or less fractured or abraded. The molar is vertically fractured 

 across through the middle, involving the loss of the greater part of one colline ; but as 

 the fi-agments fit at the base, this circumstance does not interfere with the precise appre- 

 ciation of the crown-characters. What remains of the crown is composed of ten ridges, 

 of which nine are more or less worn, the rest being intact. The posterior talon consists 

 of a single flattened gibbous digitation appended to the last ridge, which is composed 

 of three or four digitations. The most anterior disk of wear is vertically divided through 

 the middle, so that its posterior half only is present. The seven anterior disks fomi 

 oblong transverse depressions bounded hj parallel bands of enamel, there not being the 

 slightest tendency in any of them to digital subdivisions forming secondary undulations. 

 These disks are of nearly uniform width across, parallel and without any indication of 

 the retroflected comua at the sides, such as are commonly seen in Elephas antiquus. 

 Their most striking character is the nearly entii'e absence of anything approaching 

 crimping (or primary imdulations) upon the edges of the enamel plates, as they appear 

 in relief on the surfice of the crown. There is a slight appearance of vertical grooving 

 upon the cement aspect in these enamel plates, but considerably less than is exhibited 

 in the molars of any species of Elephant, fossil or recent, with which I am acquainted. 

 The enamel of the plates is rather thick, quite as thick in proportion as in the existing 

 Indian Elephant or E. anciquus. There is the slightest possible tendency to mesial 

 angular expansion in some of the anterior disks, but it is barely appreciable, while in 

 some other of the specimens this character is somewhat more pronounced. The talon 

 consists of but a single flattened digitation ; and there is this remarkable circumstance 

 about it, that it nowhere bears the slightest indication of any disk of pressure upon it 

 arising from the protrusion of another molar advancing from behind. The last or tenth 

 ridge of the specimen I have reckoned as such, and not as a talon appendage, from 

 the fact that it is continued vertically down into the large posterior fang and distinctly 

 within its bearing. The crown, in proportion to the height of the plates, is narrow. 

 The disks of wear, where much abraded in front, are in close contact, the enamel plates 

 nearly touching each other ; but tliey are well separated in the hinder part of the tooth, 

 and the whole of the crown is enveloped by a coat of cement, which, at the sides, is seen 

 to be of considerable thickness. 



" I have reckoned that what remains of the crown is composed of ten ridges ; and, 

 taking into account that the most anteiior portion, supported upon the large front fang, 

 had disappeared by age, and that it was probably composed of at least two ridges, this 

 would yield for the ridge-formula of the molar a total of twelve coUines, exclusive of 

 talons. 



"What was the age of this molar in the dental series of the animal 1 At the first 

 glance it might be supposed from its size to be a third or last milk-molar ; but this infei'- 

 ence is at once negatived by the fact already remarked on, that the posterior talon bears 

 nowhere upon it, nor does the end of the tooth exhibit the slightest indication of, a 



