ELEPHAS MERIDIONALIS.— DENTITION. 207 



timate milk-molars of the three species, as shown in PI. I, fig. 3, PL V, fig. 2, PI. XII, 

 fig. 3, PL VI, fig. 2, PL X, fig. 3, and PL XXII, fig. 3 a, are in favour of that of E. 

 meridional-is presenting in general a broader crown from the middle posteriorly than in 

 the two other extinct Elephants. 



Ultimate milk-molar. — Taking the British and Italian specimens recorded in the 

 foregoing pages, this tooth appears to vary between seven and eight plates, besides 

 talons. Out of eleven examples six show a ridge formula of a? 8 a? and five of a? 7 a?. 

 The dimensions vary as follows : — In upper molars the length is from 4"4 inches to 4*6 

 inches, and the breadth from 1*4 to 2'5 inches; in the mandible these measurements are 

 respectively 3' 9 to 4 - 8 inches, and 1*7 to 2' 8 inches in width. The general absence of 

 crimping, the pronounced channelling, thick plates, abundant cement, the low height in 

 proportion to breadth, so pronounced in true molars of E. meridionalis, are well shown 

 in this member of the series. These are evident by comparing PL XVII, fig. 8, with the 

 same tooth in E. antiquus and E. primigenius (PL I, fig. 4, PL XI, fig. 1 a, and 

 PL XII, fig. 2), erroneously recorded in the explanation of the latter plate as a penulti- 

 mate instead of an ultimate milk-molar. 



First true molar. — Allowing for the difficulty always in discriminating between small- 

 sized first true molars and the last of the milk series, I find that out of three upper and 

 four lower entire teeth, the ridge formula varies from a? 7 a? to a? 9 a?. The majority show 

 the figure of a? 8 a?. The maximum lengths are 7 inches, and the minimum 5'3 inches, 

 whilst the breadths vary from 2 to 3 inches. 



This tooth in general displays more distinctly-marked specific characters than the last 

 milk-molar, especially in well-worn crowns, such as shown on PL XXII, fig. 1, which 

 may be compared with PL III, fig. 2, of E. antiquus, and PL XI, fig. 2, and PL XXI, 

 fig. 1, of E. primigenius. 



Second true molar. — I have recorded seven entire molars belonging to this member of 

 the series, viz. three upper and four lower. The ridge formula in the above varies from 

 a? 9 a 1 to a' II a? in both jaws. The greatest length is 10 inches, and maximum breadth 

 4 inches, whilst the minimum length is 7*8 inches, and breadth 3 # 2 inches. Perhaps the 

 majority of second true molars hold about nine plates exclusive of talons. 



This tooth, always a valuable exponent of specific distinctions, is represented from 

 British strata by several very characteristic fragmentary or entire specimens. 



A comparison of PL XXIII, fig. 1, with the same molar of E. antiquus (PL II, fig. 1, 

 and PL IV, fig. 2), shows the absence of crimping, greater breadth in proportion to 

 length and height, and excess of cement, even as compared with the thick-plated variety 

 of that species ; whilst as regards E. primigenius (PL IX, fig. 1, and PL XII, fig. 1) 

 these discrepancies are still more pronounced. 



Ultimate true molar. — Among the numerous instances of this ponderous tooth met 

 with on the Norfolk Coast, I find eight entire specimens, viz. two upper and six lower, 

 from which the following data are determinable. 



