FALCONER MASTODON ANB ELEPHANT. 273 



The front talon, together with a portion of the first principal ridge, 

 supported upon the anterior fang, are partially broken. The crown 

 exhibits the disks of the seven posterior ridges and part of the first, 

 indicating in all eight main ridges. There is no posterior talon, the 

 last ridge descending continuously, for insertion upon the fang. 

 The crown is very narrow in front, and expands gradually as far 

 as the sixth ridge. The disks of wear are broad, with a mesial 

 angular expansion as in the African Elephant ; but at the same time 

 they exhibit a very pronounced crescentic outline, the horns or lateral 

 terminations being much more bent forwards than in the specimen 

 from Gray's Thurrock. The general contour of the anterior enamel 

 plate of each disk is markedly concave, and the posterior one convex. 

 The mesial expansion of the third disk, measured between the outer 

 surfaces of the enamel, is exactly |ths of an inch. The disks are 

 uniform in shape, from the first to the last, the difference between 

 them depending solely upon the greater or less amount of wear. 

 The projecting edge of enamel is irregularly crimped, and to a much 

 more obvious degree than in the Gray's Thurrock specimen. In this 

 respect it approaches more neai'ly the character of E. i^Et^eUphas) 

 antiquus, to be described in the sequel. 



The principal dimensions of this fragment are — 



inches. 

 Vertical height of the ramus, measured from the lower 



margin to the summit of the first ridge of molar . . 9-1 

 Length of the molar crown (part wanting in front) . . 6*7 



Width of crown at the second disk 1-9 



„ „ fourth disk 2-4 



,, ,, sixth disk 2-6 



Height of the seventh ridge about 3-0 



Mesial expansion of the second disk of wear 0-75 



„ ,, seventh „ 0*7 



In front of the molar there is a well-marked triangular cicatrix, 

 indicating the remains of a nearly filled-up fang-cavity, at the ante- 

 rior angle of which a small portion of an ivory stump is visible. 

 The plane of the cicatrix slopes suddenly downwards upon the dia- 

 steme, and the line of the interior margin does not follow the 

 direction of the alveolar margin of the molar in situ. The length, 

 measured from the anterior angle of the fang-scar to the back of 

 the tooth, is 8"1 inches. A question arises, whether this alveolar 

 scar belongs to a distinct younger tooth that had been shed; or does 

 it represent the remains of an anterior portion of the tooth now 

 seen in situ, which was supported by a fang anterior to that described 

 above as being the large front fang ? In the latter case, at least 

 three other ridges would have to be added to the crown, making- 

 eleven in all, and the tooth would then present the character of the 

 last lower of the African Elephant instead of the penultimate. There 

 is no positive character to decide the question either waj^ ; but I am 

 led to consider that the tooth has its full proportions in what now 

 remains, from the circumstance that the crown narrows so much at 

 the first ridge, i. e. to less than two inches, while it is three inches 



u2 



