THE MALTESE FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. Ill 



molars maintain the long narrow crown, so apparent in the lower molars of the pre- 

 ceding teeth I have referred to this type ', and represent an Elephant of about the 

 dimensions assigned by Busk and Falconer to the E. melitensis ; whilst the largest point 

 towards one of the small varieties of recent species, in no instance purporting to be over 

 7 feet in height. 



In correlating all the data in connexion with the last true molar, I have formed an 

 opinion opposed to that of the late Dr. Falconer, as to the position of the upper tooth 

 he considered to be the last of the series of E. melitensis ^ and am disposed to place it 

 with the penultimate true molar of the same species. This, however, is not of much 

 importance, seeing that facts, apparently indisputable, are patent, by which we are 

 enabled to confirm the previous evidence of the same small species, and show thereby 

 that its last true molar was only a little larger than the above ^. 



The evidence between what are designated thin- and iAzc^-plated molars, when applied 

 to the penultimate and ultimate teeth, is not of much value specifically, seeing, from 

 what has been recorded in the introduction, that such conditions are common to the above 

 stages of growth in more than one well-known species. It is to be observed, however, 

 with reference to the thin-plated last true molars just referred to, that in the 

 Zebbug collection and my own there are specimens of thick- and thia-plated varieties 

 in a diminutive elephant^. It is clear, moreover, that Dr. Falconer did not con- 

 sider the above a barrier to his belief in the specificity of teeth otherwise equal, from 

 the fact that he correlated a thin- and thick-plated molar ^ as being the last of the series 

 of E. melitensis. Under these circumstances one might be inclined to regard the 

 thick plates as only an individual distinction. Considering, however, the smallest last 

 molars collectively, they do represent an elephant varying from what may be called 

 pygmy dimensions up to an animal nearly 5 feet in height. The incomplete condition of 

 the thick-plated molars'* of the above prevents the determination of their ridge-formulae 

 satisfactorily, whereas the thin-ridged tooth displays twelve plates and two talons '. 



The largest form displays precisely the same characters as regards thickness of plates 

 as just observed with reference to the smallest ; and unfortunately there is the same 

 dubiousness in regard to the ridge-formula of its thick-plated sort '. It is difi^'erent, 

 however, with the thinner-plated type ^ of which there are several perfect specimens, 

 showing that the ridge-formula was ordinarily composed of twelve plates and two talons, 



' Compare PL V. fig. 1 with fig. 2, PI. VIII. fig. 5, PI. IV. fig. 3, and the Zebbug tooth in Trans. Zool. Soc. 

 vi. pi. 53. fig. 5. 



' Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. p. 296, and Palpsont. Mem. vol. ii. pi. xi. figs. 1 & 2. 



' Compare PI. IV. fig. 1 with Pateont. Mem. vol. ii. pi. xi. fig. 1. 



' PI. IX. fig. 1, and Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. pi. 53. fig. 11. 



' He considered pi. xi. fig. 1 of Palaiont. Mom. the last upper molar, and Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vi. pl. 53. 

 fig. 11 the last lower tooth of the same species. ' PI. IX. figs. 1 & 2. 



' PI. VI. figs. 1 & 1(1. ° Compare PI. VIII. fig. 7 with PI. VII. fig. 1 or 2. 



' PI. VII. fig. 1. 



