134 BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



to fully realise the differences between them. As regards the skull of E. meridionalis 

 generally, he observes " that the cranium differs more from that of the Mammoth than 

 does the latter from the existing Indian Elephant." The Italian form in this respect 

 greatly resembles the cranium of E. Hysudricus from the Sewalik Hills, and is inter- 

 mediate between it and the African Elephant, although widely different from both.^ 

 Unfortunately the skull of E. antiquus is not sufficiently known to admit of forming a 

 like comparison ; the distinctions, however, as far as they extend, fully substantiate the 

 diagnosis established by Ealconer from the molars. 



It is therefore in the narrow summit, narrow temporal fossa, and inordinate long 

 incisive sheaths, that the Mammoth skull is chiefly distinguished from that of other 

 species. The closest ally at present known is unquestionably the Asiatic Elephant. 



2. MANDIBLE. 



The mandible is usually found in a better state of preservation than any other portion 

 of the skull. It shows much variability in character and dimensions irrespective of age, 

 and bears out the same appearances observable in the teeth and other elements of the 

 skeleton. But the discrepancies in the sizes of individuals and variations in skeletal 

 characters are likely results in an animal which enjoyed such a very extensive distribution 

 in space ; the only wonder is that it maintained its specific distinctions so well. As with 

 the recent species, no doubt certain regions presented more favorable conditions for the 

 growth of the Mammoth, whereby local varieties and races, distinguishable by certain 

 appearances, were developed ; for it is well known to elephant hunters and elephant 

 catchers that a herd is a family.^ 



The round Q.nA. tricncated chin of the Mammoth has been advanced as a very distinctive 

 character, and in the majority of instances, especially the typical specimens from the boreal 

 regions of Europe^ Asia, and America, both points are very apparent. In such jaws the 

 rami meet at the symphysis by more rounded curves than ordinarily obtain in other 

 species, but the rule is by no means invariable, and must not be considered absolutely 

 diagnostic, inasmuch as the jaw in many instances is indistinguishable from that of the 

 Asiatic, especially in mandibles of the latter containing the first and second true molars. 

 In aged Elephants the horizontal rami becomes attenuated by absorption of the walls of 

 the dental cavities. These discrepancies in the contour of the mental region are well 

 shown in the following woodcuts, which represent the mandibles of full-grown Mammoths 

 from various localities. 



In E. antiquus the rounding was also pronounced, as is well seen in Woodcut, fig. 13, 

 and indeed the same, to a great extent, characterises the chin of E. Namadicus ; however, 

 although there are individual instances, such as the superb specimen of the mandible of 

 E. meridionalis, in the Woodwardian Museum, Cambridge, from the Forest Bed, where 



1 Op. cit., vii, p. 126. 



2 Sanderson, ' Thirteen Years among the Wild Beasts of India.' 



