E. (LOXODOX) PLANIFKOXS. 93 



last true molars, upper and lower, are subject to a certain 

 amount of variation in the number of the ridges, which will be 

 more fully considered in the remarks upon the next subgenus 

 Euelephas. All the molars, both upper and lower, are rela- 

 tively to the length of the crown much broader in this 

 extinct species than in the existing African Elephant. 



A very important part of the dentition of E. (Loxodon) pla- 

 nifrons, in relation to the systematic affinities and characters 

 of the Elephants, remains to be considered, namely the pre- 

 molars. The presence of these teeth in this species is ad- 

 verted to in the preceding Part (p. 6), and in the observations 

 which follow the technical definition of the genus Elephas 

 (p. 13). The lower jaw fragment, fig. 8 of PI. XII. F.A.S., 

 cited above, displays three teeth in situ, viz. in the posterior 

 extremity the last milk molar, in front of it the penultimate 

 milk molar (b) nearly worn out, and emerging from below the 

 latter a small vertically succeeding premolar (c) is exhibited. 

 The penultimate premolar is represented of natural size (c) 

 in fig. 9 of the same plate. It is considerably smaller in all 

 its dimensions than the antepenultimate milk molar, fig. 1 a, 

 drawn to the same scale. It is of a roundish form, and 

 shows no distinct indications of ridge-divisions. It was 

 therefore, in all probability, of but small importance func- 

 tionally in the economy of the species. In like manner, 

 figs. 10 and 10 a of the same plate furnish an illustration of 

 the last lower premolar in situ, in front of the first or ante- 

 penultimate true molar. That the latter is one of the true 

 molars is clearly proved by its large dimensions and by the 

 mature form of the jaw. Fig. 116 represents the last pre- 

 molar (natural size) vertically divided through the middle, 

 the anterior portion being wanting. Although partly emerged, 

 it is still embedded in the alveolus, and intact, while the 

 tooth behind it is well worn. It is of comparatively small 

 size, but presents distinct indications of two transverse ridges, 

 terminating in the thick digitations characteristic of the 

 species. 



Of the upper premolars only the penultimate has been 

 discovered in situ. A beautiful example is seen in the cranial 

 fragment represented by figs. 4, 5, and 6 of PI. VI. of the 

 same work, on the left side of the palate, the tooth of the 

 right side having dropped out. Behind the premolar are the 

 last milk molar, well worn, and the antepenultimate true 

 molar in germ. The premolar, in plain view, is of a very 

 broad and round oval form. The crown is composed of a 

 number of tubercles irregularly huddled together, somewhat 

 in a botryoidal manner, and presenting no distinct indication 

 of transverse ridges. The surface of the crown has attained 



