QUADRUMANA. 305 



which overlaps it, when the jaws are closed or in action. 

 This facet would prove nothing by itself, as it is common to 

 all aged animals in the Carnivora and other tribes in which 

 the upper and lower canines have their surfaces in contact. 

 The second facet, c, must have been caused by the wear of the 

 inner and rear surface of the canine against the outer surface 

 of the first molar of the lower jaw. But to admit of such 

 contact, this molar must have been contiguous with the 

 lower canine without any blank space intervening ; for if there 

 was not this contiguity the upper canine could not touch the 

 lower first molar, and consequently not wear against it. 

 Now, this continuity of the series of molars and canines 

 without a diasteme or blank interval is only found, through- 

 out the whole animal kingdom,' in man, the Quadrumana, 

 and the Anoplotherium. The fossil canine must therefore 

 have belonged to one of these. It were needless to point out 

 its difference from the human canine, which does not rise 

 above the level of the molars. In all the species of Anoplo- 

 therium described by Cuvier, the canines, while in a contiguous 

 series with the molars, do not project higher than these, 

 being rudimentary as in man. Of the Sewalik species, Ano- 

 plotherium poster ogenium (Nob.), we have not yet seen the 

 canines f but it is very improbable, and perhaps impossible, 

 that the fossil could belong to it. For if this species had a 

 salient canine, it must have been separated from the molars 

 by an interval as in the other Pachydermata ; otherwise the 

 jaws would get locked by the canines and molars, and the 

 lateral motion required by the structure of the teeth and the 

 animal's herbivorous habit would be impracticable ; and if 

 there was this interval, the upper canine could not have the 

 posterior facet of wear. The fossil canine must therefore 

 have belonged to a quadrumanous animal. This inference is 

 further borne out by the detrition of the fossil exactly cor- 

 responding with that of the canines of old monkeys. 

 The dimensions are : — 



Length of the fragment of canine 1-75 inch. 



Antero-posterior diameter at the base .... "8 „ 



Transverse ditto ........ -7 „ 



Width of the anterior facet of wear "6 ,, 



The two diameters are greater than those of the canine of 

 the Sumatra Orang-outang described by Dr. Clarke AbeP as 

 having been 7^ feet high. The Gynocephali have large and 

 stout canines, more so comparatively than the other Quadru- 

 mana. But to what section of the tribe our fossil belonged, 



' Cuvier, Oss. Foss., tome iii. p. 15. 

 ^ It had no canines, see antea, p. 211 

 -[Ed.] 



VOL. I. X 



' Asiatic Eesearches, vol. xv. p. 498. 



