ELEPHAS MELITENSIS. 295 



The front talon appears to be composed (what remains of 

 it) of a conple of digitations, the greater part of it having 

 already been ground away, or become confluent with the 

 front ridge. The three anterior discs are transverse, the next 

 five are only slightly affected by wear, showing the tips of 

 the digitations abraded into annular detached discs, or in 

 three divisions. The anterior disc is expanded in the middle, 

 and narrows at either side, and presents only two or three 

 flexures in the enamel-plate, without crimping. The second 

 and third are nearly of a similar form, with uncrimped 

 enamel, and narrowing at the sides. The fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth are each in three divisions, and the seventh and eighth 

 only show the tips worn across. The enamel-plates are 

 decidedly thick for the size of the tooth, and the ridges are 

 very high relatively to the length. The layer of cement at 

 the anterior end has been removed, and with it all appear- 

 ance of a disc of pressure. The hind talon forms a gibbous 

 projection beyond the vertical plane of the posterior fang. 

 There is no distinct disc of pressure upon the crown portion 

 of the talon, but there is an obscure depression at the basal 

 part near the fang, which may be of this nature. The fol- 

 lowing are the dimensions : — 



Extreme length of crown, 2-9 in. Width in front, 1-35 in. Ditto in the middle, 

 1 - 3 in. Ditto behind, 1 ■ 1 in. Length of surface occupied by the eight anterior discs 

 of wear, 2'2 in. Extreme height of crown at unworn portion, 9th ridge, 2 - 8 in. 



From the above dimensions, the contraction of the crown 

 backwards and the considerable height of the ridges rela- 

 tively to the length of the crown are well shown. 



Had this specimen been discovered isolated, little or no 

 hesitation would have been entertained by the Palaeontologist 

 in referring it to the age of a milk molar of some species of 

 Elephant. But when regarded as part of a series in con- 

 nection with the undoubted milk molars (fig. 4 of Plate XI., 

 and figs. 1, 2, and 3 of Plate XII.) , the whole of which are 

 of such unusually small proportions ; and when further com- 

 pared with the adult molars of the lower jaw, of which one is 

 figured in Plate XII. figs. 4 and 4 a, and the upper molar 

 (figs. 1 and 1 a of Plate XL), it is manifest that it maintains 

 its place consistently as a true molar of the same series. 

 I am at present unable to decide with confidence whether it 

 had best be regarded as a penultimate. 1 



Of the antepenultimate upper true molar (m. 1) no perfect 

 specimen is to be found in the collection. One fragment, 

 inferred to be a part of this tooth from its size, form, and 

 proportions, comprises the two anterior ridges, together 



1 At page 298 it is spoken of as the penultimate. — [Ed.] 



