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BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



crimping is not always so excessive as in E. antiquus ; at the same time it would be 

 difficult, excepting on the score of dimensions, to make out any decided distinctions. 



The ridge formula in the Asiatic Elephant is the same as in the first true molar of 

 the Mammoth, only that the crowns are not so broad and the enamel of the disk is deeply 

 festooned. 



The ridge formula in the first true molar of the African equals, according to Falconer 

 and others, that of the last milk tooth, and stands usually at a? 7 x} It is quite possible 

 in the more expanded disk of the E. prisons variety of E. antiquus to mistake its molars 

 for those of the African ; but entire specimens would doubtless clear up any ambiguity 

 created by broken teeth, which cannot be invariably depended on in establishing the 

 dental characters of any one form of Elephant. 



In compounding the data evolved from the examination of the foregoing and other 

 specimens of the first true molar of E. antiquus, referred to by Falconer in his 

 memoirs and also in collections, it appears that the estimate of the latter authority is below 

 the average deduced from the materials I have been enabled to study. He assigns a 

 ridge formula of ten plates, besides talons, to the first true molar. I find that in upper 

 teeth the ridges vary from eleven to fourteen in a space between 5*5 and 8 inches ; 

 whilst thirteen ridges is a very steady number in lower teeth, with a maximum of 

 fourteen ridges, included between 6 and 8*3 inches. 



Considering therefore that Dr. Falconer assigns twelve plates and two talons to the 

 penultimate true molar of E. antiquus, it might be inferred that I may have included teeth in 

 the above list which should have been placed with the second true molar. It will appear, 

 however, that the instance in which the largest number of ridges is shown, to wit, the upper 

 tooth from the Mendip Caves at p. 23, is given on the authority of Dr. Falconer, where ^12^ 

 are contained in a space of 7"2 inches, and the upper tooth, p. 22, in the Geological Society's 

 Museum, where the same number of ridges are contained in a space of only 6 5 inches, I 

 admit, however, in this latter instance an abnormal condition of the crown, the other lower 

 molar, p. 25, holding x 12 x in inches being the one in Baron Anca's possession, is con- 

 sequently a foreign specimen. Allowing, therefore, that these excessive examples might have 

 a doubtful relationship with the first true molar, we find that, as regards dimensions, they 

 are short compared with instances just adduced of both upper and lower molars with 

 thirteen ridges in a space of 8*3 inches ; whilst an analysis of the entire series shows a 

 constant variation in the number of ridges and dimensions, especially in upper molars. 

 Perhaps about a? 10 a 1 to x 11 x for maxillary, and x 11 x for mandibular teeth, will 

 fairly represent the ridge formula of the first true molar of Elephas antiquus. 



1 « Pal. Mem.,' vol. ii, p. 89. 



