THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 35 



individual. Here the last srs 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 2-5 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 betw een 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 (PI. 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, i. 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 (PI. XL 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. vol. vi. p. 291. 



F 



