102 



BRITISH AND EUROPEAN FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



The grinding-surface is very concave from back to front, a 

 chord stretched from, the front to the last ridge being fully 

 1*4 inch above the level of the sixth and seventh discs. It 

 is also a good deal contorted, the anterior inner side sloping 

 backwards and outwards, while the posterior outer angle 

 slopes forwards and inwards, corresponding precisely in this 

 respect with the specimen of the last lower molar of E. 

 (Euelephas) Hysudricus, represented by fig. 13 a, PL XII. of 

 the ' Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis.' 



The enamel plates are very thick ; and their outer edges 

 present an appearance of crimping, caused by the deep 

 vertical grooving of the outer surface, namely, that in con- 

 tact with the stratum of cement ; but they are not plaited. 



The principal dimensions are as follows : — 



Length of crown, about 12- in. Width of crown at fourth ridge, 3 - l in. Width 

 of crown at sixth ridge, 3'35 in. Width of crown at eighth ridge, 34 in. Width 

 of crown at tenth ridge, 3 - l in. Width of crown at twelfth ridge, 2-6 in. Width 

 of posterior talon, 1-65 in. Height of crown at fourth ridge (much worn), 1*6 in. 

 Height of crown at sixth ridge, outer side, 3'1 in. Height of crown at ninth ridge, 

 outer side, 4-5 in. Height of crown at twelfth ridge, outer side, 5-2 in. Mesial 

 expansion of fourth disc, 0'75 in. 



The crown includes twelve ridges in a length of about 12 

 inches, being an average of one inch to each. The specimen 

 was compared with an exact drawing, of the natural size, of 

 the Grays Thurrock molar; and the two agreed in the closest 

 manner, making allowance for their different stages of 

 wear. This very important specimen bears a record of having 

 been discovered, by Count Gazzola, in a calcareous deposit 

 upon Monte Serbaro, in the valley of Pantena, about eight 

 miles from Verona, along with the remains of other herbi- 

 vorous quadrupeds. In its mineral condition and appearance 

 it presents undoubted evidence of being a true fossil. 



This completes what I have to adduce in proof of E. 

 (Loxodon) priscus being a distinct species ; l and it must be 

 freely admitted that, considering the area explored and the 

 number of museums examined, both in Britain and abroad, 

 the evidence, although strong in kind, is, in the form of 

 authentic materials, quantitatively very limited. It may be 

 asked, if this be a well-founded species, how does it happen 

 that determinable remains of it are everywhere so rare ? To 

 which it is replied that the Pliocene Mastodon (Triloph.) 

 Borsoni, respecting which there is now no question among 

 those Mammalian palaeontologists who have -studied the 

 remains attributable to it, is in the same predicament, and 



1 Subsequently, in 1859, Dr. F. found 

 in the University of Rome, and des- 

 scribed in his note-book, a magnificent 

 last lower molar of E. priscus from 



Monte Verde, having all the characters 

 of the Milan specimen. The crown was 

 12 in. long and had twelve plates. — [Ed.] 



