e. (loxodon) mekidionalis. 



119 



it will at once be perceived that they agree in the hypisonie- 

 rous character of the intermediate molars, here indicated as 

 distinctive of the group from Euelephas, the obvious difference 

 being that, besides a greater number of plates in the last true 

 molars, upper and lower, the cipher 8 prevails in E. meri- 

 dionalis, and the cipher 7 in the others. In order to show 

 how essentially distinct the Italian fossil species is in its 

 molars from E. {Euelephas) primigenius, I may anticipate the 

 results to be found in the sequel, so far as to contrast the 

 ridge-formula of the true Mammoth, 1 viz. : — 



Milk molars. 

 4 + 8 + 12 . 

 4 + 8+12' 



True molars. 



12 + (16-18) + 24 



12 + (16-18) + 24-27. 



For the manner in which this difference operates in modifying 

 the form and relative proportions of the alternate layers of 

 ivory, enamel, and cement, I may refer to the longitudinal and 

 vertical sections of the molars, represented in fig. 1 of PI. I., 

 and fig. 5, PL II. of the ' Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis,' the former 

 being of the Mammoth, the latter of E. (Loxodon) planifrons, 

 in which the section closely resembles that of E. (Loxodon) 

 meridionalis. (Eeproduced in PL V. fig. 3 and PL IV. fig. 2 

 of vol. i.) 



g. Characters of the TusJcs. — In some of the crania the tusks 

 are preserved entire ; and the specimens are sufficiently 

 abundant to furnish a correct idea of their form and direction. 

 In one cranial fragment, comprising the united incisive bones, 

 they are finely preserved in their natural position. In this 

 case, the extruded portions diverge for some little distance in 

 a straight line ; they are then directed outwards, and curve 

 gradually upwards and inwards, so that the points are closely 

 approximated. When this incisive fragment is placed erect, 

 the included area (between the tusks) gives a truncate, ovate, 

 or lyrate outline, with the point towards the tips. Viewed 

 sidewise, they appear to be produced forwards and upwards 

 in a very gentle curve. On the whole, they do not differ 

 much in this instance from varieties seen in the existing In- 

 dian Elephant. In the majority of cases they diverge, and 

 are produced forwards and upwards in an easy curve, with the 

 points directed outwards, very much as in the African Ele- 

 phant, or in the skeleton of Mastodon Ohioticus in the British 



1 You will observe that this formula 

 is very different from that of the exist- 

 ing Asiatic Elephant, and of the Eueleph. 

 antiquum (the true one) of Chartres and 

 Grays in Essex. The E. meridionalis 

 formula is intermediate between E. 



planifrons and E. Hysudricus, but is 

 nearest the latter, 'which it also closely 

 resemblos in the form of the cranium. — 

 Letter from Dr. F. to M. Lartet, Florence, 

 July 17, 1856. See also p. 176, note.— 

 [Ed.] 



