52 MR. A. L. ADAMS ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF 



is dangerous to hazard an assertion. As to the probable dimensions of the owner of 

 fig. 1 ; according to the condition of the epiphysis it must have been an aged elephant, 

 and, by comparison with recent species, stood about 7 feet at the withers. 



2. Another head and fragment of a shaft of the left humerus of an old elephant is 

 shown in fig. 2. It lay in Mnaidra Gap, with its scapula in close apposition. Of the 

 former only about 6 inches remains. However, the antero-posterior length of the head 

 is entire ; but the tuberosity is gone, and there is a recent fracture obliquely across the 

 head, the shaft having been broken across 3 inches below the latter. Of the scapula, only 

 the fragment (fig. 3) of the anterior portion of the glenoid cavity remains. The antero- 

 posterior length of the scapular portion of the head (by tape) is 7 inches, the breadth 

 posteriorly being 3'4 inches. Portion of the anterior surface is lost ; but fortunately 

 the opposing surface of the scapula furnishes the required datum, which is 3-2 inches. 

 With the exception of the rather flattened head of the African, there is not enough to 

 enable me to go into further comparisons. As to the age of the individual, there can be 

 no question that the bone belonged to a full-grown elephant, seeing that, although there 

 is a recent fracture across the head, the epiphysial connexion is consolidated and gives 

 every indication of the characteristics of an aged animal. Moreover, if the outlines of 

 the articulated surfaces of their heads are reliable as to dimensions, I find that this 

 humerus, and that of the Sumatran Elephant in the British Museum are about equal, 

 although the arc of the curve in the latter is much more circular. It seems likely, 

 therefore, that figs. 1 & 2 belonged to the largest form, although they differed indivi- 

 dually in size, as might readily be expected, at all events to a certain extent. 



3. Another head in the collection, from Gandia Fissure, although much mutilated, 

 gives an antero-posterior length very much the same as the last. 



4. Another head of a left humerus of a still smaller adult elephant is shown in fig. 4. 

 The bone has been broken across ielow the epiphysial junction, with the loss besides of 

 the great tuberosity. The antero-posterior length (by tape) is 6 inches. Breadth 

 posteriorly about 3 inches, at the middle 4-5 inches, and anteriorly 2-5 inches. 



5. Another head gives a rather larger antero-posterior admeasurement, but is like- 

 wise too imperfect for further comparisons. It is important to note these gradations, 

 however imperfect the specimens may be otherwise, as they prove that, however much 

 the Maltese elephants may have difiered in specific characters, there was a very regular 

 gi-adation in dimensions between extremes. 



Young and immature Scapula and Humerus. 



Of these the humerus is represented, first, by a head and fragment of a shaft, secondly 

 by an entire specimen excepting the epiphyses. The first ofiers only one character of 

 importance, viz. the great shallow bicipital groove, in this respect resembling the adult 

 head, PI. XII. fig. 1. In the absence of the epiphysis it is of course impossible, to 

 indicate the exact outline of the head, the contour of the surface of which is traceable 



