THE MALTESE EOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 25 



6. Second True Molar. 



I shall now describe three series of molars containing apparently twelve ridges, or 

 ten plates and two talons. 



A Series.— 'The two rami Nos. 100 & 101 (PI. V. figs. 1 a & J), with their associated 

 molars in situ, are veiy interesting. They are evidently the right and left of the same 

 individual. The right has been rolled, thus giving a rotundity to it w-hich is not seen 

 in the other ; on the contrary, the left has been flattened by pressure, and was also 

 found in the gap of Benghisa, firmly impacted between blocks of stone. They thus 

 well exemplify the geological conditions under which they were deposited. These 1 

 have fully described elsewhere \ 



Unfortunately both rami have been broken across at a short distance behind their 

 teeth ; but there are apparently data for establishing the position of the latter m the 

 dental series. The more perfect of the left side shows clear evidence of twelve ridges in a 

 space of 5-6 inches, irrespective of the oval-shaped fragment of dentine in front, which, 

 judging from the opposite tooth, may have formed a base for a semilunar anterior talon, 

 such as is seen in the last true molar (PI. VI. fig. 1 a). In PL V. fig. 1 there is no trace 

 of a preceding tooth in front ; and considering that all the ridges, excepting the last three, 

 were in wear, we should expect a succeeding tooth to be making advances, and the 

 former to have been pushed further forwards, seeing that they extend for 2 J inches 

 behind the anterior border of the coronoid process, and neariy to the angle of the jaw. 

 They are remarkably long and narrow ; and taper gradually, with a small posterior talon 

 at c on the right tooth, the same having been lost on the opposite. Although the 

 cement is not injured, there is a void behind as if it had held the germ of an advancing 

 tooth ; indeed this is so apparent that I am much inclined to regard the above as 

 penultimate true molars. A fragment of a similar tooth is represented in PI. II. figs. 



8 & 8a. 



B Series.— 1. The molar No. 42 b (PI. XI. figs. 10 & 10 a), in situ, is nearly perfect, 

 having only lost its last ridge, probably by the same accident which cleared away all the 

 jaw posterior to the tooth. The lost posterior talon, however, is preserved in the detached 

 tooth (42 a) of the other ramus ; but the crown of the latter is much distorted through 

 injuries received when the molar was fresh. It is probable, from the gap a, fig. 10, 

 that a fragment of the preceding tooth was in wear. I think, from the circumstance that 

 the double anterior fang in 42 a distinctly supports two plates and a field of dentine 

 in front, with a machseris of what may probably form portion of its semilunar talon, we 

 may very fairly surmise that this tooth held twelve ridges in a space of 6-3 inches. 



The question is, therefore, is this a penultimate or a last true molar 1 Unfortunately 

 all the portion posterioriy is lost, so that there is no direct evidence of a successor; but 

 though all the ridges except the last two are invaded and there are no indications of 

 ' Author's ' Nat. Hist, and Arch, of the NUe VaUey and Malta,' p. 189. 



VOL. IX. — PART I. November, 1874. ^ 



