THE MALTESE POSSIL ELEPHANTS. 21 



me to exceed other upper molars in both collections with regard to the following — viz. 

 the greater height of the crowns, the length as compared with the breadth of the 

 croMTi, and the thinness of the enamel and plates'. To what position in the dental 

 series do they therefore belong 1 Are they the opposing molar to the narrow-crowned 

 teeth (PI. VI. fig. 5, and PI. V. fig. 2) which we have just seen carry the same number 

 of ridges in a space of 4-2 inches 1 



In the thinness of the enamel and absence of crimping on the machaerides of well- 

 M'orn disks the two are precisely alike. The plates of the lower molars are much 

 thicker. This, however, does obtain more or less in the lower jaw, just as the ciown is 

 narrower by a good deal. 



As regards relative length, it is nothing uncommon to meet with much discre- 

 pancy in this respect between upper and lower first true molars, to even a greater 

 extent than in the above. Lastly, in the short, stumpy outline of the upper Zebbug 

 molar, with the pronounced pressure-hoUow below its posterior talon, made by the 

 advancing septum, we find precisely the same conditions in other species of Elephant, 

 and in PI. III. fig. 3, which I have assigned to the same position in the dental series 

 of the largest form^. 



D Series. — The perfect and highly suggestive upper molar No. 61 (PI. III. figs. 4, 

 4 a, & 4S) contains ten ridges in 3-2 inches. There is a well-defined pressure-scar on 

 the enamel of the anterior talon, 0-6 by 0-8 inch in breadth, which equals the base 

 posteriorly of the largest upper penultimate milk-molar (PL I. fig. 13). The talons 

 here are well shown. The crown, just commencing wear, has not the pattern well 

 developed; but in No. 65 (PI. IV. figs. 2 & 2a), which doubtless belongs to the same 

 series, we find a half-worn crown displaying decided mesial expansions, slight tendencies 

 to angulation, with faint crimping extending even to the cornua. These characters 

 are continued in the still more attrited crowns of Nos. 18 & 52 of the Collection. The 

 fangs are well shown in No. 65, PI. IV. fig. 2 ; and the posterior pressure-slope (a) is 

 also exceedingly clearly defined. The rugosities or digitations of the collines are 

 excessive, extending to the posterior talon, as seen in PI. III. fig. 45, where the investing 

 cement has been purposely removed. This latter character is common also to the largest 

 penultimate milk-teeth, as shown by PL I. fig. 14. 



The lower molar referable to this type is, I apprehend, well shown in No. 49 (PL III. 

 figs. 5 & 5 a). As regards relationship I scarcely think there can be a doubt of the 



' The thickness of the enamel on the crown of Falconer's figrire (Trans. Zool. Soo. vol. vi. pi. 53. fig. 9) is 

 exaggerated. I have compared the actual specimens with PI. II. fig. 9, with which its machKrides agree very 



closely. 



= There is, moreover, this character, ahnost peculiar to first true molars : viz. the tooth is generally very much 

 broader at the base of the crown than other members ; and although they vary much in size individually, the 

 specimens coUectively of all first true molars, upper especially, seem to be shorter and stumpier teeth than any 

 other of the intermediate members. 



