THE MALTESE POSSIL ELEPHANTS. 13 



second fang would ordinarily diverge. But it is clear that if any thing of the kind did 

 exist it must have been of very diminutive size, and came off at right angles to the 

 main root, which here, as in my specimen, is flat. It has three worn ridges, with a 

 posterior talon. The crown is 0-4 inch in length. There is a less perfect specimen in 

 the collection, showing a crown on the point of being shed. Here the base of the fang 

 presents indications of having been single ; and although only three ridges are left in a 

 space of 0'5 inch, there are traces of a lost ridge on the fore and on the hind plate, 

 also well-marked pressure on the base posteriorly. 



It seems clear therefore that the single straight perpendicular fang of the Maltese 

 elephants supported all the ridges, and had no divergent fang. This has been further 

 confirmed by Falconer and by Busk ; the latter discusses the subject in a note in his 

 monograph '. He is of opinion, moreover, that the fangs \7ere connate ; and certainly 

 on the flat side of fig. 6 there is a slight tendency to a central depression lengthways, 

 as if the two had grown together. 



It is scarcely necessary to indicate the small dimensions of the above teeth as com- 

 pared with other known species of elephants. I may state, however, that among a 

 large series of instances of antepenultimate molars I find the smallest specimens of the 

 Asiatic are 0-6 inch in length, whereas none of the African are below 0*8 inch, and the 

 majority are fully 1 inch in length. 



As to their specific characters, it would be difiicult, excepting on the score of size, to 

 make out that they belong to more than one form of elephant. However, on account 

 of the larger dimensions and seeming thickness of plates, it might be that the molars 

 (PI. I. figs. 3, 4, & 5) belonged to a larger form of elephant than fig. 6 and the two 

 Zebbug specimens. As to their claims to be considered either first or second milk-molars, 

 it is clear that fig. 3 belonged to the latter, although holding a ridge less than figs. 4 

 & 5. This being the case, the probability is that they are likewise second or ante- 

 penultimate milk-teeth. At all events, whether first or second milk-molars, there can 

 be but one opinion as to the unusually small size of all their owners. 



4. The Third or Penultimate Milk-molars. 



Of all the dental materials of the Proboscidea discovered by me in Malta the majority 

 are referable to this member of the series. 



Besides several specimens from Gandia Fissure, collected by Dr. Caruana, Mr. Welch, 

 and myself, and now in the Museum of the University of Malta, my own collection 

 furnishes upwards of thirty examples of the penultimate or third milk-molar, the 

 greater number being entire, or in conditions which admit of ready determination. 

 Moreover, whilst furnishing valuable odontological data, they also supply grounds for 

 speculation as to the causes which brought about the destruction and aggregation in 

 small areas of so many very young and immature elephants as compared with the adult 



' Trans. Zool. Soo. vol. vi. p. 287. 



