56 FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 



relations of the bones of giants found in several parts of those 

 countries. But we cannot, with any certainty, apply these 

 stories to the elephant, inasmuch as they are equally applicable 

 to the mastodon, whose teeth have a still closer resemblance 

 to those of man. 



We shall close this article with a brief view of the compara- 

 tive anatomy of the fossil and living elephants. 



Without descending to minutiae, which would be inconsis- 

 tent with our limits, we shall dwell simply upon the most 

 striking points of difference. The laminae of the molar teeth 

 of the fossil elephant (comparing teeth of equal length) are 

 narrower and more numerous than those of the Indian species. 

 From this it results, that the number of laminae employed at 

 a time in trituration must have been more numerous in the 

 fossil elephant. 



The lines of enamel which separate the divisions of laminae 

 are more slender and less festooned in the fossil teeth. 



The absolute, as well as proportional, magnitude of the fos- 

 sil teeth is greater. 



These three characters are in accordance to the differences of 

 the jaws and crania. 



The two first are not invariably constant in all the fossil 

 specimens, but this may be referred to the difference of ages. 



We are not aware that similar differences in the magnitude 

 of the tusks, relatively to sex and variety, existed in the fossil 

 elephant as they do in the Indian species. Nor do we know 

 their exact limits as to smallness. But their magnitude was 

 considerably greater than in the living species, more especially 

 than in the African. The texture is precisely the same in all, 

 nor is it different in the mastodon. 



In a number of fossil specimens the tusks are more curved. 



Upon the whole, however, the Baron is of opinion that the 

 tusks do not constitute a character of great importance. 



The cranium of the elephant is too cellulous, the osseous 

 plates of which it is composed too slender, to admit easily of 



