ELEPHANT AND MASTODON. 57 



at some length upon the evidence on this point, more especially, 

 as the two latest authorities of weight, Prof. Owen and M. de 

 Blainville do not admit a specific difference between M. angusti- 

 dens, and M. longirostris. On the other hand Dr. Kaup has, in 

 some instances (as in the case of the Stellenhoff lower jaw found 

 near Vienna, ] ) excluded from his M. longirostris, specimens 

 which assuredly belong to it ; w T hile in others (viz. the Georgens- 

 miind Mastodon teeth described by von Meyer) he has transferred 

 to this species, molars which appear to pertain to M. angustidens . 



The first point to determine, under these circumstances, is the 

 form to which the specific name of M. angustidens is properly 

 applicable. Cuvier's description of the species commences with 

 the Simorre tooth (Oss. fossil, tom.i. p. 255, Divers Mastodontes, 

 pi. 1. fig. 4) which has the crown divided into three ridges, with 

 a back talon of two tubercles, measuring 4.5 inches in length by 

 2.35 in width. The next specimen which he describes as be- 

 longing to it, is the Dax fragment (pi. 3. fig. 2.) containing 

 two teeth implanted in the palate on one side, the anterior of 

 which is the unworn germ of a premolar, and the posterior, nearly 

 of the same size as the Simorre tooth, like it consists of three 

 ridges and a small talon of two tubercles. A third tooth which 

 he immediately afterwards attributes to this species, is another 

 Simorre specimen (pi. 3. fig. 3.) measuring 3.6 inches by 2.6, 

 and having its crown also divided into three ridges. It is there- 

 fore to a species having the intermediate molars distinguished 

 by a ternary division of the crown, as in M. Ohioticus, that the 

 specific name of M. angustidens is strictly applicable, so far as 

 priority of description, and reference to original types can be 

 taken as the guides to a decision on the point. 



Of the other specimens referred by Cuvier to his M. angusti- 

 dens, and represented in the four plates devoted to ' Divers Mas- 

 todontes,' the South American teeth (figs. 6 and 7 of pi. 1, and fig. 

 4 of pi. 3) appear to belong to M . Andium, as has been advanced 

 by M. de Blainville, and nearly all the rest, which are susceptible 

 of determination, belong to M. Arvernensis (M. longirostris of 



1 Cuv. Oss. Foss. edit. 1834, torn. ii. p. 363. pi. 2, figs. 4 and 5. 



