THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHAKTS. 43 



the smallest form, is in such an imperfect condition as to scarcely admit of any very 

 accurate measurements. 



The breadth of the ascending ramus, in a line with the alveolar border, is about 

 2'6 inches. 



The height of the alveolar border at the outer edge of the ascending ramus is 2-8 

 inches. The vertical height of the ascending ramus, to the neck of the condyle, is 

 4'5 inches. 



There is one point, irrespective of size, in which this jaw seems to differ from any 

 other specimen in my collection, viz. in the bulging of the ascending ramus posteriorly 

 so apparent in the Mammoth and Asiatic. This is very evident by comparing the above 

 with PI. VI. figs. 1 & 4. The jaw, moreover, in comparison with the short narrow tooth, 

 is very deep — much deeper, indeed, than that of the recent species, where the penulti- 

 mate milk-tooth is in full wear, and the individual is fuUy 4-5 feet in height ; whereas 

 another (No. 28, 11a) in the Royal College of Surgeons, with the antepenultimate and 

 part of the penultimate milk-molars in use, is also proportionally very much smaller, 

 although the height of the animal is said to have been 3 feet. 



8. The fragment of a left lower ramus. No. 42 (PI. XI. figs. 10 & 10a), containing a 

 penultimate true molar, referred to the largest form, has been broken across imme- 

 diately behind the coronoid apophysis, and obliquely in front of the tooth, but in such 

 a way that a fragment of the posterior part of the cylindrical canal remains just as 

 observed in the rami PI. V. fig. 1. 



The anterior border of the coronoid has been recently injured ; but there is no diffi- 

 culty in supplying the deficiency ; so it will be apparent that the process is high, rising 

 •fairly erect, with some overhanging of the front, which is thick as in the recent species. 

 The diasteme (PI. XI. fig. 10«) is decidedly almost vertical. The lower and ^side por- 

 tions of the jaw have been much injured ; and therefore the following may be somewhat 

 less than had obtained. The height of the jaw at the commencement of the diasteme is 

 5'8 inches, at the base of the coronoid process in front 3-7 inches ; height of the coronoid 

 process 3"3 inches. 



The surface of attrition is 4-6 inches ; but it is just possible that a small fragment of 

 the preceding tooth was also in wear. 



9. The first upper true molar of the largest elephant (PL VIII. fig. 5) was found in 

 a skull which had also the lower jaw and teeth in place. Unfortunately the latter were 

 destroyed during the process of removal. I ascertained, however, beforehand, that the 

 height of the ramus in front of the lower molars, as compared with the same in the jaw 

 in PI. VI. fig. 1, stood as 4"5 to 3'8 inches. Consequently the former belonged to the 

 largest form, as further borne out by the ridge-formula and other characters of the 

 teeth ; whilst PI. VI. fig. 1, we have seen, held the last true molar of the pygmy 

 elephant. 



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