THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. . 93 



The only entire specimen in my collection, referable to the second metacarpal, is the 

 very diminutive bone, PI. XXI. figs. 4 & 4a, described at page 76. 



The second metatarsal is represented by three entire specimens, referable to individuals 

 of larger stature. There are distal extremities, however, of both metacarpals and meta- 

 tarsals and entire phalanges referable to the large form, and which differ materially, 

 not only in dimensions, but in the following characters : — 



1. Eevertmg to the fore foot, PI. XX. fig. 12 illustrates what I take to be the proximal 

 and mid phalanges of the second toe, left fore foot of the largest form. Both bones agree 

 in outline with those of the Asiatic, and represent an individual of about the assigned 

 ordinary dimensions I have ascribed to the largest form. The entire length of the former 

 is 1-7 inch, the proximal and distal articulating aspects being 1-5 by 1-3 inch and 1-3 by 

 0-7 respectively. 



2. Two specimens of the mid phalanx, besides that m the figure, are somewhat 

 smaller, and may have belonged to the same digit in the hind foot ; and, judging from 

 the contours of their proximal facets, the distal aspect of the first phalanx of the hind 

 foot presented the same appearance as that of the fore, and consequently followed the 

 Asiatic Elephant, just as much as I shall now point out obtains in PI. XX. fig. 17, 

 which represents the characters of the African. 



3. This characteristic phalanx will be seen, by fig. 17, to present a deep saddle-back 

 distal articular surface, which is not the case in fig. 12. 



With reference to the former, there are four specimens, two of which differ con- 

 siderably in dimensions, although otherwise they are all much alike, whilst two are 

 evidently of the same skeleton. There is moreover a mid phalanx which fits exactly to 

 fig. 17, and another which suits a larger specimen. These three phalanges are dis- 

 tinguished from each other by the two largest having ovoid proximal facets, and there- 

 fore probably belonging to the fore; whilst the two latter (right and left) are smaller 

 and have circular facets, and may belong to the hind foot of the same form. The 

 former is I'G inch, and the latter 1-3 inch in length. 



The distinguishing character, 1 repeat, of these first phalanges of the second toe, 

 whether of the fore or hind foot, is the large, scoojied-out distal articular aspect, with a 

 scar on its inner side, and a sharp protruding, ridge bounding it externally. 



As regards theii- characters in comparison with all recent and fossil species, I find the 

 same bones in the fore foot of the Mammoth very similar ; and the same obtains in the 

 African, 708/;. As to dimensions the young Ceylon Elephant, 707/; in the British 

 Museum, with the last milk-molar in full wear, has the equivalent bones of the same 

 dimensions as the last. 



4. The entire second metatarsal, PI. XX. figs. 5 & 5«, presents the following cha- 

 racters. The specimen is entire, and differs from either of the recent species generally, 

 but agrees with the next I shall describe, in having its shaft rounded instead of the sharp 

 internal and flattened external border. The facets for the three cuneiforms are here by 



