638 Fossil Elephant's Tooth from Sumrotee. [Dec. 



VIII. — Description of the Fossil Elephant's Tooth from Sumrotee, near 



Ndhun. By Lieut. W. E. Baker, Engineers. 



[ In a letter to the Editor.] 



In fulfilment of the promise made to Capt. Cautlev, I have the 

 pleasure to enclose a sketch, (Plate XXXVI.) drawn to half size, of 

 the fossil tooth presented to me hy the Nahun Raja, and stated by him 

 to have been found at a place called Sumrotee, about 30 coss in a wes- 

 terly direction from Nahun. Concerning' the exact situation of this 

 place there is still considerable doubt, but as Lieut. Durand has sent 

 out persons in quest of it, we hope soon to determine its locality, and 

 to be enabled to prosecute our researches whenever opportunity may 

 offer. We could get no certain account of the formation in which this 

 fossil was found imbedded, but the substance of which, small portions 

 were found adhering to the specimen, appears to be a ferruginous 

 pound. 



I have not the means of comparing this with other fossil elephant's 

 teeth ; but I beg to call your attention to two points, which may be of 

 importance, and which the imperfection of the drawing might prevent 

 your remarking. 



First, the great prominence of the molar ridges, particularly at one 

 end, viz. the left of the drawing. 



Secondly, the part that were the " crusta petrosa" has been broken 

 away, the bone below it appears perfectly continuous, and not divided 

 into separate plates. I may add, that the great general convexity of 

 the grinding surface seems to show that this tooth belonged to the 

 upper jaw, and that the fractured appearance of one of the ends proves 

 that it once extended further in that direction. The colour of the 

 " crusta petrosa" is a dull black. The bony parts where they are dis- 

 covered, as well as the prominent ridges of enamel, are of a lighter 

 tint, and the surfaces of the latter are highly polished. 



Dddupur, November 16th, 1834. 



[We should make the same remark on inspection of the present drawing, as 

 on first receiving the fossil tooth from Jabalpur*, that there is nothing to distin- 

 guish it (the animal that bore it) from the existing species of elephant, to the 

 drawings of which in Cuvier's Ossemens Fossiles, (which are not engraved in a 

 style suited to very accurate comparison,) it bears a stronger resemblance, than to 

 those of the fossil elephant's tooth. We are happy to perceive that the Asiatic 

 Society is now in a fair way of possessing a splendid museum of the fossil riches 

 of this newly discovered or re-discovered tract of country, through the exertions 

 of Captain Cautley, Lieut. Baker, and Colonel Colvin, all three engineer 

 officers on the spot, and all equally zealous and disinterested in promoting the 

 objects of science. — Ed. 



* Journal Asiatic Society, Vol. II. page 585. 



