﻿14 



BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



Another upper molar, No. 28,273, B. M., from Easton, likewise gives a similar 

 number of ridges in 2*3 X 1*2 inches. 



No. 27,991, B. M., from Clacton, although not entire, is a well-worn upper molar, 

 and therefore distinctive as regards the crown pattern. 



A well-worn upper molar, 40,952, B. M., from the cave of Raven's Cliff, Gower, 

 has lost ridges by wear, leaving only six plates, which show the characteristic disk. The 

 tooth is 2*3 X 1*4 inches. 



The upper molar, 23,376, B. M., from Grays, is rather broad in front as compared 

 with upper-jaw specimens ; but perhaps in this instance the first true molar was also in 

 wear at the same time, seeing that the latter preserves the anterior portion of the 

 succeeding tooth from lateral detrition. 



The upper tooth, 40,990, B. M., from Kent, is figured by Ealconer; 1 and, although 

 fragmentary, it is a good illustration of a molar commencing wear. 



Among the recent discoveries in Victoria Cave, besides the aforementioned ante- 

 penultimate, there were two instances of the succeeding members of the milk series, both 

 of which I have carefully examined. The penultimate is a right upper milk molar more 

 than half worn. The cement has been denuded from the enamel, displaying the profuse 

 elevated ruga? to an unusual degree. There is a distinct pressure mark on the posterior 

 talon. The large posterior fang is 1*5 inch in length by 1' inch in breadth. The 

 stumps of the two central fangs are in front of it, and the anterior ridges, ground down 

 to the common base, are supported on a broad anterior fang 0'8 inch in breadth. All 

 the ridges are in wear, and there is an evident loss of the anterior talon, whilst the disk 

 of the succeeding ridge is worn out anteriorly. Altogether the ridge formula is 6 x in 

 21 inches, with a maximum breadth of crown of 1\2 inch. The average thickness of 

 the plates is about 0'3 inch. The disks show the central expansion with the pro- 

 nounced crimping of their machaerides, and altogether the characters of Elephas aniiquus. 

 To me the above is a distinctive instance of the penultimate milk molars of the Elephant 

 in question. 



I am thus particular in indicating these points inasmuch as, with the foregoing and 

 others I will refer to in the sequel, there cannot be a doubt that the remains from 

 Victoria, Raygill, and Kirkdale Caves fix the most northern limits of the Elcjilias 

 antiqims in the British Islands and in Europe, at all events, as far as I have been enabled 

 to determine. 



The mandibular teeth are represented by No. 47,407, B. M., from Grays. The 

 molar is entire and of the left side, with the cement denuded, showing the ribbing very 

 clearly. It holds w§x in 2'9 inches. The plates are not thick, and the crown is long 

 and narrow. 



In the British Museum there is a fragment of a left lower ramus, containing an entire 

 penultimate milk tooth, No. 21,310, see Plate V, fig. 2. It is from the Thames Valley 

 1 ' Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis,' pi. xiv a, figs. 1 and 1 a. 



