768 Note on Mastodons 0/ the Sewaliks. [Dec. 



In the hope that some* of our members stationed in Guzerat will 

 carry on the investigation of the fossils, not only of Perim, but of 

 other parts of the formation in Kattywdr, I have hastened to lay 

 before them this imperfect sketch, without waiting for a report on 

 the nature of the fossils found, or presuming myself to offer any 

 opinion, or to draw a conclusion on that part of the subject. 



II. — Note on Mastodons of the Sewaliks. By Capt. P. T. Cautley, 

 Superintendent of the Doab Canal. PI. XL. 



In the present state of the researches into the fossil remains of 

 the Sewaliks, it will be interesting to note any discovery of peculiar 

 interest, without entering upon a description in detail. Such a descrip- 

 tion may, with propriety, be reserved, until the possession of a more 

 perfect and a more numerous collection of remains enables us to 

 enter upon the description with greater confidence : whilst, in the 

 mean time, to those who are interested in the study, the periodical 

 announcement of progress made in our operations, cannot be devoid 

 of interest ; under this idea I did myself the pleasure of forwarding 

 to your Society the note on the dentition of the Mastodon Angusti- 

 dens (variety of), and now send you one on a skull of another variety 

 of Mastodon which has been lately received. The sketches are drawn 

 on transfer paper, and will, I hope, be intelligible. 



Fig. 1 and 2, are representations of the fossil skull — Fig. 1 being 

 the front, and Fig. 2, the profile or side view. Fig. 3 and 4, are simi- 

 lar outlines of the existing elephant, on a scale of one- eighth on linear 

 measurement. 



The fossil is exceedingly perfect in some respects. The left orbit 

 and maxillaries are as sharp and well defined as in tbe recent skull ; 

 the frontal and nasals are tolerably perfect, the specimen is fractured 

 obliquely, removing the temporal swellings and diploe of the cranium, 

 together with the occipital condyles and foramen magnum ; the 

 curve of the occipital on its external surface is however retained, and 

 although sutures are altogether wanting, and the alveoli of the tusks 

 are mutilated, the specimen may be considered as sufficient to give a 

 perfect idea of the form of skull ; and, as a form perfectly unique 

 amongst the proboscidean pachydermata, will be looked upon with 

 satisfaction by all those who take interest in the additions that have 

 of late years been so rapidly made to palaeontology, and the catalogue 

 of animals now no longer existing on the globe. The present skull 

 derives additional interest from its being so different from the only 



