﻿20 



BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



The last milk molar of E. primigenius is ordinarily shorter in length and height, and! 

 very much broader than that of E. antiquus, with closely approximated and uncrimped 

 enamel ridges, without even a tendency to central expansions and angulations of their 

 disks, the formula usually being as 12 x. 1 



The same molar in E. meridionalis has a relatively broader crown than even in the 

 Mammoth, with thick plates, generally uncrimped, and a ridge formula averaging 

 only x 8 %? 



The Asiatic Elephant has the same high ridge formula as that of the Mammoth, and the 

 crimping is excessive, whilst there is an absence of the mesial expansion and angulation 

 so general in the disk of E. antiquus. 



In the last milk molar of the African Elephant the low ridge formula x 7 x and the 

 short ridges with the lozenge-shaped disks show peculiarities distinguishable from any of 

 the foregoing. 



The third milk molar in the Maltese fossil Elephants holds from 10 to 11 ridges 

 in about three inches in the larger form E. Mnaidriensis, and, of course, in a much 

 smaller space in the dwarf E. Melitensis and E. Falconeri. But, with the exception of 

 these smaller dimensions and less pronounced crimping of the machserides, there is a 

 very close alliance between the last milk molars I have ascribed to E. Mnaidriensis* and 

 the same teeth in E. antiquus. 



The closest affinities exist, therefore, between the last milk molar of E. antiquus, 

 E. Namadicus, and E. Mnaidriensis. The thick-plated variety observed in the preceding 

 member of the milk series is again repeated individually in the last of the milk series, 

 showing the disposition to variability, which is a marked feature in the dentition of 

 Elephas antiquus, and therefore noteworthy whenever noticeable. 



Dr. Ealconer after eliminating talons has conceded ordinarily 10 plates as the exponent 

 of the last milk molar of E. antiquus. 4. 



From the foregoing and other specimens it appears to me that the upper molar 

 usually holds from 9 to 10 plates and 2 talons in a length varying from 4"5 to 5*5 

 inches ; whilst lower teeth usually contain 9 to 1 1 plates, besides fore and hind talons, 

 in a length varying from 4 - 5 to 5*8 in. The highest expression of 12 plates and 2 talons 

 is doubtless rare. This tooth shows, I repeat, the tendency to variation, so generally the 

 case with the last milk and first true molar ; yet, perhaps, eleven plates and two talons 

 would embrace by far the larger number of, at all events, British molars of E. antiquus. 



1 British Museum, several specimens. 



2 'Pal. Mem.,' vol. ii, pp. 110 and 111; ' F. A. S.,' pi. xivB, fig. 4. 



3 'Trans. Zool. Soc. London,' vol. ix, pi. iii, figs. 4 and 5, pp. 21 and 22. 



4 ' Pal Mem.,' vol. ii, p. 176. 



