372 Mr. Clift on the Fossil Remains of two New Species of Mastodon, 



found with these remains^ do not appear to have belonged to the individual 

 which furnishes this description *. 



Among- the teeth of mastodons in the British Museum there are two or 

 three which bear a strong- resemblance to those of M. latidens ; particularly 

 one large molar tooth in a portion of the lower jaw. The anterior denticules of 

 the tooth are worn away in precisely the same manner, and the worn surfaces 

 are incrusted with the same kind of mineral cement as that adhering to many 

 of the specimens brought home by Mr.Crawfurd. Its locality is unknown ; its 

 extreme length is nine inches, breadth three inches and five eighths ; and it 

 is composed of five denticules and the spur. 



The only other remains which can satisfactorily be identified as belonging 

 to this species, are fragments of two femora, of a tibia, a scapula, and a pelvis. 

 The circumference of the lower extremity of the right femur round the con- 

 dyles is two feet four inches. 



The habits of this animal must have borne a close relation to those of the 

 elephant. The proboscis must have been an organ of equal power with that 

 of the elephant, for collecting the food to be subjected to the action of the 

 powerful grinders; and this food (judging from the general structure of the 

 teeth, and the more compact jaw bone,) probably consisted of harder vege- 

 table matters than those which the slighter structure of the elephant's jaw 

 usually encounters. 



The size of M. latidens appears to have equalled, if it did not surpass, that 

 of the largest living elephant. A string passed round the lower jaw, over the 

 anterior part of the grinder where it is worn, measured two feet four inches; 

 while a string passed round the lower jaw of the largest Asiatic elephant in 

 the museum of the College, at the same point, gave two feet three inches ; and 

 the cranium of this elephant has always been considered a very large one. 



Mastodon elephantoides. — M. dentibus molaribus latis, denticulis numerosis, 

 compressis. 



This species must have been smaller than the last ; and though we have one 

 fine example of the lower jaw, showing the tooth in the highest degree of 

 perfection, that is the only portion of the animal from which we can safely 

 draw any inference as to its structure and habits. The tooth, which is eleven 

 inches long and three inches and a half broad, has no less than ten denticules, 

 and each of these denticules is mammillated with small points ; five being the 

 smallest number, and eight the greatest on any one denticule. In front of this 

 beautiful tooth we have a remnant of the preceding one, nearly worn down 



* See Plate XXXIX. fig. 4. 



