THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 11 



The highly interesting portions of upper and lower jaws (Nos. 91, 90, PI. II. figs. 1, 2) 

 are unfortunately by no means perfect. By good luck, however, a small part of the 

 upper jaw in front of the third or penultimate molar has been preserved. Here, close 

 to the tooth and somewhat internally, at 5 is a distinct and rounded fang with a smaller 

 central canal. A little further down at c there is another, but considerably smaller, 

 ivory stump sticking in the ramus, the distance between them being about 0*6 inch. 

 There is no appearance of an alveolus, such as obtains in the last-named and other 

 species. The posterior root seems to be the largest ; and both are standing quite erect ; 

 so that unless the tooth they upheld had two perpendicular instead of divergent fangs ; 

 1 see no way of explaining the condition than by the hypothesis that instead of one 

 there were two separate molars in place at the same time, each with single erect fangs; 

 i. e. the first and second milk-molars were developed in the upper jaw, which, as far as 

 I know, is an anomaly. However, these are the facts, look at them how we may ; 

 Mr. Busk, who examined the fragment of jaw referred to, is of opinion with me that 

 it holds indications of the entire milk-series, as will be reverted to frequently in the 

 sequel. As to the lower jaw in this instance, I am unable to state whether or not the 

 same condition obtained, as the anterior portion has been removed close to the third 

 milk-molar, leaving it and the collines of the last milk-molar in place. However, from 

 the very young and uterine lower Zebbug rami described and figured by Busk', it 

 would appear that the first milk-tooth, as in recent and other extinct species, was 

 often, if not as a rule, suppressed. At the same time, from what is shown by the African 

 instance, it may, when developed, have performed its function in common with the 

 second. 



1. The entire upper second or antepenultimate milk-molar (No. 105, PL I. fig. 3) I 

 discovered in a fragment of jaw, with the penultimate in germ behind it. The latter 

 was composed of eight ridges, and equalled in size the penultimate milk-tooth (fig. 13) 

 attributable to the largest form of Elephant. The crown of fig. 3 is composed of four 

 collines. The anterior is triangular and short, and occupies the inside front; the 

 third is the highest and broadest, with its digitations very slightly touched by wear, 

 showing the owner was not unborn. All the ridges rise from the common base, the 

 first two being modified with single digitations. The fang has been broken off close to 

 the crown ; its hollow base is still evident. The ridges are thick. The length of tlie 

 crown is 0'5 inch. There is no possible likelihood of any additional ridge having 

 existed in this specimen, which might be said to hold three plates and an anterior talon, 

 just as anatomists may choose to look on the latter. 



2. No. 67, fig. 5, is entire, with the recent loss only of a figment of the second ridge. 

 The first is placed like the preceding, and is of the same pyramidal shape. There is a 

 distinct posterior talon appendage adhering to the last ridge. The crown has the tips 

 of the second and third ridges just touched by wear; it is narrow in front and broad 



' Trans. Zool. Soc. rol. vi. p. 276, pi. 52. figs. 42, 43, & 45. 



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