186 BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



and E. primigenius is applicable, but in a much smaller degree, to the molars of E. 

 meridionals. 1 These discrepancies, in several instances, as regards the two former species, 

 seem in some cases diagnostic of races and local varieties, such as the small, thick-plated 

 molar of the Mammoth found at llford, in the Valley of the Thames, but I apprehend 

 that, as occurs often in the living species, the crown constituents go frequently hand in 

 hand with unusually large developments of the other portions of the skeleton. 



The nearest approach to the elements of the molar and its ridge formula in E. meri- 

 dionalis is in the teeth of E. planifrons, of Northern India : indeed, a larger assortment 

 of its remains may show a far closer relationship than can be at present admitted with 

 fairness ; moreover, Falconer was so impressed with the similarity between the molars 

 of these two Elephants that he correlated them in the classification of his sub-genus 

 Loxodon. 2 



The above are the more general features of the molars of these three forms, but there 

 is much variability, and the most pronounced divergences from typical molars of each 

 species, or of the three conjointly, may be met with in the same deposits. 



1. INCISORS. 



An enormous tusk in the Norwich Museum, from the Elephant Bed at Runton, near 

 Cromer, presented by Sir Thomas Buxton, Bart., is broken across in two places, and 

 the tip is wanting ; the contour is, however, preserved throughout, but there has been 

 some desquamation of the outermost layers of dentine. The sides are somewhat com- 

 pressed, whether a natural condition, or from pressure, or from loss of substance does 

 not appear determinable. The arc is about the same as in the two recent species. A 

 portion of the pulp-cavity is preserved. The entire length lineally is 93 inches, and by 

 tape along the lower border 130 inches. The girth at the proximal extremity is 27 

 inches, and at the distance of 41 inches from the latter 31 inches. 3 



Seeing that the tusk of E. antiquus presents the same configurations, and that indi- 

 viduals of the latter attained to nearly the same colossal dimensions, it is impossible to 

 assign the above with certainty to either species ; the probability is, however, that it 

 belonged to E. meridionalis.' 1 



A portion of a tusk dredged from the North Sea about forty miles off Southwold, 



1 The enamel in the generality of well-worn crowns of U. meridionalis stands up prominently with 

 both the enclosed dentine and external cement denuded, the latter so much so that the ridges and ribbing 

 of the outer surface of the plate are distinctly seen. This is very apparent in PL XXIV, figs. 1 and 2, 

 and in the mandibular teeth in PI. XXV, fig. 1. 



2 Op. cit., vol. ii, pp. 14 and 108. 



3 This tusk has about the same dimensions and is of the same contour as the specimens of E. meridio- 

 nalis in the Piti Palace, Florence, recorded by Falconer, ' Pal. Mem.,' vol. ii, p. 120. 



4 A fragment from St. Germain is figured by Logard. It shows also a gentle curve, ' Arch, du Mus. 

 Hist. Nat. de Lyon,' pi. xvii. 



