﻿10 



BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



has four digitations with a small flattened posterior talon, the anterior talon being single 

 and conical. There are altogether five ridges. Here, again, the thick plates with rugae 

 and ribbing of the enamel are well shown ; the crown displays faint traces of wear. The 

 thickness of the ridges in all of these molars is out of proportion with that of the 

 Mammoth, and is even thicker in comparison than in the same tooth of the Asiatic, but 

 agrees in this respect with that of the African and Maltese fossil Elephants. 1 



It will be seen, moreover, that they are only slightly larger than the equivalent molars 

 of the Elephas Mnaidriensis with which, and possibly the other forms of Maltese fossil 

 Elephants, they agree in often possessing a compressed connate fang, at all events in lower 

 ante-penultimate molars. Unfortunately the extremities of the fangs are wanting, but for 

 the distance of j^jths of an inch below the crown it is single, with a constriction down 

 either side, forming two shallow grooves, which on a transverse section of the root divide 

 the cavity into a large posterior and a smaller anterior hollow, equivalent to the posterior 

 and anterior fangs in the upper molars (No. 44,783, B. M., just described). It would 

 seem, however, that there was a bifurcation at x, fig. 2 a, inasmuch as the excentral 

 depression is deeper at that point, and there is just an indication of a divergence on the 

 anterior side close to the line of fracture. I think it likely, therefore, that the teeth may 

 have been slightly furcate at the extremities of the fangs. 



As compared with the lower ante-penultimate molar of the Asiatic Elephant, No. 2811 

 of the Osteological Collection, in the Royal College of Surgeons of England, it will be 

 seen that the fangs diverge in the latter to form a large posterior and a smaller anterior 

 fang. In connection with the connate condition of the fang I have been unable to 

 ascertain if a similar condition exists in the same member of the series in the 

 E. meridionalis and E. primigenius. Dr. Falconer makes no mention of the circumstance 

 in describing their ante-penultimate molars ; 2 judging, however, from the alveolar socket 

 in a mandibular ramus, No. 33,403, B. M., of Elephas primigenius, there is evidence of 

 two pits. I believe, therefore, whether an abnormality or natural condition, it is clear, as 

 demonstrated by the above specimens and the Maltese molars I have described, 3 that 

 Mr. Busk's view with reference to the connate condition in the Maltese fossil molar, 

 referred to by Falconer, has been thoroughly substantiated, 4 and thus, as far as evidence 

 extends, the character establishes an important relationship between the Elephas antiquus 

 and the Maltese forms. It will be interesting to notice how far the data will stand the 

 test of further comparisons. 



The ante-penultimate milk molar varies in length and number of ridges in E. antiquus, 

 as will be seen is the case also in the other species wherever sufficient materials have 

 been obtained for comparison ; and, as also obtains in this molar and in all members 

 of the dental series, the maximum number of ridges is very generally found in the lower 



1 ' Trans. Zool. Soc. London,' vol. ix, p. 10, pi. i, figs. 3 — G ; and vol. vi, p. 28G, pi. liii, fig. 2. 



2 ' Pal . Mem.,' vol. ii, pp. 114 and 161. 



3 ' Trans. Zool. Soc. London,' vol. ix, p. 10. i Ibidem, vol. vi, p. 286 (footnote). 



