230 BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 



GENERAL SUMMARY. 



The chief morphological characters and comparisons I have inferred from studies of 

 the osseous remains of these three Elephants met with in the British Islands, and similar 

 relics elsewhere, may be epitomised as follows : 



As regards their exteriors, nothing is known further than the inference deduced 

 from Arctic specimens of the E. primigenius, whose epidermis was clothed with long 

 dark-coloured hair having a dense undergrowth of wool, as appertains to Mammals of 

 cold climates. 



As regards the cranium of Elep/ias primigenius, the frontal aspect is lengthened ; 

 summit narrow ; space between the orbits in front narrow ; large and long incisive 

 sheaths with diverging alveoli ; temporal fossa narrow ; depression on the frontal ; 

 prominent lachrymal tubercle; zygoma under the level of the condyles, and nearly 

 parallel with the molars ; ovoid zygomatic arcade. (Pis. VI and VII.) 



Mandible. — Broad, round mental region ; small rostrum ; erect diasteme, or nearly 

 so ; wide symphisial gutter ; border of ascending ramus round posteriorly ; condyles 

 slightly compressed ; neck of ditto narrow behind ; dental canal opening upwards ; short 

 horizontal ramus ; height to width of ascending ramus inconspicuous. (Pis. VIII and X.) 



Cranium of E. antiquus. — Characters unknown. 



Mandible. — Chin less rounded than E. primigenius ; diasteme nearly erect; short 

 rostrum ; gutter not very wide ; dental canal opening inwards ; absence of much promi- 

 nence of posterior border of ascending ramus ; horizontal ramus more prolonged than in 

 E. primigenius ; greater difference between length and breadth of ascending ramus. 



Cranium of E. meridionalis. — Shorter than in E. primigenius ; vertex low and round; 

 nasal aperture nearer to summit than in E. primigenius ; inter-orbital space narrower ; 

 slight frontal depression ; pointed lachrymal tubercle ; zygoma much below the level of 

 the condyles. 



Mandible. — Chin usually less rounded than in either of the other two extinct species ; 

 low elevation of jaw at the commencement of the diasteme ; long and narrow symphisial 

 gutter ; prolonged horizontal ramus, ending in a rather well-developed rostrum ; greater 

 height of ascending ramus in proportion to width as compared with the other two forms ; 

 absence of conspicuous bulging of ascending ramus posteriorly and at the junction with 

 the horizontal ramus; dental canal directed backwards; narrowness of neck behind 

 and below condyle. (PI. XXII, fig. 2.) 



I have already indicated several points of distinction between the dentitions of 



