THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 41 



Elephant holding the fragment of a third, and having nine ridges of the fourth milk- 

 molar invaded. 



5. I have stated my views as to the teeth in rami Nos. 100 & 101 (PI. V. figs. 1 a & b) 

 being considered penultimate true molars. Both rami are broken ofl just in front of 

 the diasteme and at the angle behind. Their coronoid processes were also removed, and 

 the contours of the jaws very much destroyed by the rough usage they received when 

 first deposited in Benghisa Gap ; consequently they present few, if any, very reliable 

 measurements. From the base of the coronoid to the commencement of the diasteme is 

 4'4 inches, which is rather greater than PI. VI. fig. 3, and equal to that of the jaw 

 (PI. VI. fig. 1) holding the last true molar. The fragment of diasteme, especially on the 

 left, and the rapidly incurving of the chin would indicate a steep slope to the former, 

 and a truncated aspect to the latter. At the angle posteriorly on the right side there 

 is a deep sulcus, which may be the termination of the sharp border and hollow we shall 

 see is pronounced at b, PI. VI. fig. 1. This, however, is not to be looked on as a reliable 

 character as far as PI. V. fig. 1 is concerned, seeing that the specimen has been severely 

 injured just at the angle of the jaw. 



6. The right ramus. No. 95 (PI. VI. figs. 1 & 1 a), when discovered was nearly entire ; 

 although from rough usage received when fresh, the condyle had been removed, and the 

 jaw fractured, and its fore part bent inwards, so that there is a void between the molar 

 and the alveolus anteriorly. The diasteme was injured; and the symphysial canal was 

 imperfect, in consequence of the opposite ramus having been broken off close to it. The 

 molar, however, as before noticed, is entire ; and there are no traces in the jaw of a pre- 

 decessor or successor ; indeed so crowded is it by the long narrow crown, that the pos- 

 terior portion of the latter reaches almost to the entrance of the dental foramen, leaving 

 no space for the capsule of a germ molar. 



The following measurements of the jaw were procured immediately after the mandible 

 was removed from Benghisa Gap. Since then, from the exceedingly friable nature of 

 the specimen, the greater portion of its anterior extremity has been destroyed during 

 transit from Malta. 



The extreme length, from the posterior margin of the ascending ramus to the edge of 

 the symphysis, is about 10-6 inches. This admeasurement is somewhat vitiated in con- 

 sequence of the fracture. 



Length of the alveolar border, from the anterior margin of the ascending ramus to 

 the diasteme 5 '5 inches. 



Breadth of the ascending ramus in a line with the alveolar border 4-5 inches. 



Height of the alveolar border at the outer edge of the ascending ramus 3-5 inches. 



Height of the alveolar border in front near the diasteme 3 "8 inches. 



Length of the diasteme 5-8 inches. 



Vertical height of ascending ramus to the neck of the condyle 6 inches. 



Transverse diameter at bulge of ramus below the coronoid apophysis 3*5 inches. 

 VOL. IX. — PART I. November, 1874. G 



