THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 91 



relative dimensions, are in keeping with the largest fossil carpal bones, and about equal 

 to the same parts of an Asiatic between 6 and 7 feet in height. 



B Type. — 2. A different form of bone (with its phalanx, fig. 5) is shown in Plate V. 

 fig. 4 ; it is one of a pair found close together, and of the same dimensions. The oblong 

 proximal facet is concave, whilst the distal is broad, expansive on the margins, and deeply 

 grooved, and flat below, as in the African. The digit was doubtless well defined, and 

 may be that shown in figure 5 ; it was found in the immediate vicinity. The inner side 

 of the former is convex, and the outer hollow; length 1-8 inch, trapezial facet 1-2 by 

 0-8 inch, digital facet 0-9 by 0-9 inch. This toe must have given a character to the 

 foot, and permitted unusual pliability, just as was surmised of the saddle-backed dorsum 

 of the calcaneum Plate XVI. fig. 5, referred also to the small form. That the above 

 belongs to the fore foot is shown by the oval outline of the trapezial facet. 



3. The similar-shaped pygmy fore-foot bone, PI. XXI. figs. 3 & 3a, already described, 

 demonstrates at all events the characters of PI. V. fig. 4, as compared with PI. XIX, 

 fig. 2. Another, less perfect pygmy of the same form is seen in PI. XIX. fig. 9. 



The following I refer to the first metatarsal : — 



A Type. — I. The digit, PI. XX. figs. 1, la, and its phalanx b, fits very closely to 

 the small internal cuneiform, PI. XVII. fig. 6. 



2. The still smaller specimen, PI. XX. fig. 2, and another of about the same dimen- 

 sions, with circular, instead of ovoid, proximal facets, and perpendicular grooves on the 

 distal aspects, are 1-2 inch in length. The height of the proximal facet is 1-1 inch, of 

 the distal extremity 0-9 inch, cuneiform 0-8 by 06 inch, and digital facet 0-8 by 0-6 inch. 



Of these three, although fig. 1 is much larger than fig. 2, they do not differ in respect 

 of outline ; and clearly the two belong to the metatarsi of an intermediate and a very 

 small form ; the latter, however, is not by any means so diminutive as the first meta- 

 carpal (PI. XXI. fig. 3), thus showing how very much variability there was in regard to 

 the dimensions of the feet-bones. 



The terminal phalanges of the fii'st metacarpal differ doubtless individually to some 

 extent. In the African it would appear to hold a semilunare and concave facet, which 

 is irregularly hollowed out in the Asiatic ; they differ seemingly also in outline. 



The first-metatarsal phalanx of the African is shown in the accompanying woodcut 

 (p. 92). A smaller but similar bone is represented on PI. XIX. fig. 8 ; and another, 

 (fig. 14) has a very concave facet at a. I have placed the last with the fifth toe at 

 page 105. 



This bone is rarely preserved on skeletons or in cabinets ; it is usually very small. 

 In the African alluded to it is in the form of a small cone, with an oblique articular 

 surface. Evidently it is subject to modifications in outline in the same species ; but the 

 pointed character and smaller size, as compared with the fore foot, distinguish it. No 

 doubt it is subject to considerable variability in both feet, although generally of sugar- 

 loaf form. 



if2 



