ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. lxxxix 



by the supposition of any exceptions to a primary law of nature or 

 of organization. 



Two other communications of Dr. Falconer were on the species of 

 Mastodon and Elephant found fossil in Britain, — the first paper relat- 

 ing to the Mastodon-remains of the Norwich or Bed Crag, all of which 

 are referred, so far as present knowledge permits their identification, to 

 one species — the M. (Tetralophodon) arvernensis of Cuvier and Jobert, 

 a pliocene form. In a similar manner he examines the species of Ele- 

 phants, and shows that, associated with the Mastodon arvernensis, 

 occur Elephas meridionalis and E. antiquus, as well as Rhinoceros lep- 

 torhinus and Hippopotamus major, — an association the same as that of 

 the Yal d' Arno, or of the Subapennines ; and this of course excludes 

 the opinion which had been advocated by many, that there was really 

 only one species of Elephant, E. primi genius, extending over both 

 miocene and pliocene formations. 



So far, indeed, from admitting only one species of Elephant in the 

 deposits of Europe, and therefore assuming that the same species had 

 been contemporary with two species of Mastodon, Dr. Falconer con- 

 siders that he has fully established four qhstinct species, and further 

 proved that the several species of Elephant, as well 'as the species of 

 Mastodon, are limited to peculiar formations in so marked a manner 

 as to justify him in ascribing a higher value to them and to other 

 air-breathing animals, for determining geological epochs, than to 

 the relics of Mollusca or other marine animals. 



To effect so important an object as is implied by this deduction, 

 it was manifestly necessary that the most careful scrutiny should be 

 applied to the determination of the true characters both of genera 

 and species. In treating of the Mastodon, Dr. Falconer had, for 

 example, pointed out that the obscurity which had crept over the 

 determination of the faunse of the Miocene and Pliocene periods was 

 the necessary result of the fusion of several really distinct forms, 

 belonging to different geological ages, into one species — the Mastodon 

 angustidens ; and in like manner he shows that the same confusion 

 has existed in reference both to the geographical range, and period 

 of existence as a species, of Elephas primi genius, or the Mammoth, 

 which, having been quoted as existing at the time of the deposition 

 of both the lower and upper pliocene beds, and also, when the post- 

 pliocene glacial gravels were distributed, must have continued its 

 existence over a vast extent of time and space, in spite of the con- 

 vulsions which had attended the elevation of the Alps, Apennines, 

 and Pyrenees, and given rise to the present geographical contour of 

 the European area. In order to unravel this confused jumble of many 

 species into one, Dr. Falconer points out the peculiarities of dentition, 

 and, assuming these peculiarities as permanent, or, in other words, 

 as depending on an organic law, not on a mere casual modification, 

 he explains the characters on which several subgenera have been 

 established, and shows that, just as Tetralopliodon arvernensis had 

 been separated from Mastodon (Trilophodon) angustidens, so also 

 must Elephas (Euelephas) primigenius be separated from Loxodon 

 meridionalis, L. priscus, and Euelephas antiquus, however near to 

 each other in some respects they may be. 



