14 ME. A. L. ADAMS ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF 



and aged. This subject, however, has been fully discussed by me elsewhere^ I shall 

 therefore proceed at once te a consideration of their anatomical characters. 



As regards dimensions the specimens constitute two series, graduating regularly 

 from the smallest to the largest, the extremes of length in upper teeth being 1'6 to 

 2 inches, against 1-3 to 2'4 inches in the lower jaw. 



A Series. — The smallest penultimate milk-molar in my possession — indeed, I believe, 

 the most diminutive third milk-tooth of any recent or fossil species of elephant hitherto 

 fissured and described, is represented by the entire and beautifully preserved specimen 

 of the left-side lower jaw No. 14 (PI. I. figs. 8 & 8a). The one described by Falconer^ 

 is not quite entire ; and although apparently belonging to the same type, it is a little 

 larger, seeing that with the loss of its anterior talon it contains six ridges in 1'3 inch, 

 whereas fig. 8 holds seven ridges in the same space. The latter molar is well worn, so 

 as to fully display the character of the crown-pattern, which is precisely like that of 

 the other, and bears also a resemblance to the disk of Elephas antiquus and the African 

 species. This character pervades generally all molars of Maltese fossil elephants, with 

 faint crimping near the middle of the disk, which is expanded, and shows a small 

 angulation, as in E. antiquus. On the anterior talon of fig. 8 there is a distinct 

 pressure-scar, 0-2 inch broad, and the usual pressure-hollow posteriorly at b. As 

 regards comparisons, it is almost needless to state that the above is about half as long 

 and one third as broad as even the smallest penultimate milk-molar of any known 

 species of the genus. 



The somewhat imperfect upper molar (No. 2, figs. 7 & la) shows satisfactorily that 

 it originally held the same number of ridges as the last in about 1-6 inch. Here the 

 pi'essure-scar (fig. la, I) is 0'6 inch broad, and indicates a succeeding tooth impinging 

 steadily on the posterior talon. The fangs are consolidated, and the crown is con- 

 siderably arcuated externally, seeing it is an upper molar. Although as far advanced 

 in wear as fig. 7, the machferides are more crimped, whilst the central dilatation and 

 angulations are also pronounced. 



The two perfect and very instructive upper and lower teeth (Nos. 91 & 90) belonging 

 to the same skull have been already noticed in connexion with the foregoing members 

 of the milk -series. They are represented in situ (PI. II. figs. 1 & 2). The upper penul- 

 timate milk-molar in fig. 1 has a ridge less than any of the foregoing, just as obtains 

 in the antepenultimate (PI. I. fig. 3). It bears a close resemblance to the entire speci- 

 men of the penultimate milk-molar of Falconer's E. melitensis^, only that it contains seven 

 ridges in 1-4 inch, whereas fig. 1 holds six ridges in 1-5 inch; nevertheless these two teeth 

 are very much alike, and contrast with the upper molar just described in their thick plates. 

 The investing cement in Falconer's molar has been denuded ; but in fig. 1 it is present, 

 and gives a thick-plated aspect to the crown. Immediately in front of fig. 1 there are 



' Nat. Hist. & Arch, of NUe VaUey and Malta, p. 161. 



' Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vi. pi. 53. figs. 4 & 4a. ' Ibid. figs. 6 & 6o. 



