﻿Hippopotamus Reinains. 229 



Hippopotamus Remains. 



By W. E. Deeks, B.A., M.D. 



Considerable interest is attached to the discovery of the 

 Inferior Maxilla of a Hippopotamus in the river bed 

 opposite Montreal, early in November, 1896. It was 

 obtained by one of the Harbour Commissioners' dredges 

 in the clay about 5 feet below the bed of the river, the 

 water being here 28 feet deep. When discovered, it was 

 in a perfect state of preservation, except for the absence 

 of the tusks. Unfortunately, the workmen, not realizing 

 its scientific value, had broken it in pieces before it was 

 reclaimed, and some fragments are still missing. 



The bone tissue itself is in a good state of preservation, 

 not having been mineralized to any extent. In regard to 

 its anatomical characters, it is more nearly allied, if not 

 identical, with the present living African species. Hippo- 

 potamus amphibius, than any other form, recent or 

 fossil. 



On comparing it with a specimen of the African species 

 in the Eedpath Museum, there are, however, several 

 points of difference observable. These characters may, 

 however, depend on sex or on age, as the museum 

 specimen is much younger, the last pair of molar teeth 

 being only partially developed. 



The articulating end of the discovered specimen is 

 much deeper, so that the rami are much more elevated at 

 the posterior ends from the table upon which it rests. 

 The hook-like flange so characteristic of H. amphibius is 

 not nearly so well developed. The symphisis is not 

 perfectly united between the rami, whereas in the younger 

 specimen it not only is, but a ridge is also developed 

 in this situation, and this is produced backwards into 

 a tubercular process. The positions of the various 

 foramina also vary somewhat and there are a number 

 of other minor points of difference. 



