6 PACHYBERMATA. 



cessarily multiplied by authors both in Europe and America, on 

 the other, we are compelled to think that Cuvier, and others, have 

 run into the opposite extreme of caution, and in more than one 

 instance included distinct forms under the same nominal species. 

 Further, in regard to the views which have been at different times 

 advanced respecting the differential characters of Elephant and 

 Mastodon, in the succession and development of the series of 

 molar teeth, our conclusions are, in some measure, at variance with 

 those of most other palaeontologists who have preceded us upon 

 this family. 



Before entering upon the description of the species, we shall 

 examine, at some length, the general characters presented by the 

 teeth ; but in order to comprehend the present state of knowledge 

 on this branch of the subject, it will in the first instance be 

 necessary to pass briefly under review the leading opinions which 

 have been entertained by palaeontologists regarding the relations of 

 Mastodon and Elephant to each other, and to notice the successive 

 steps in the discovery of new forms, which have led to the modi- 

 fications of these opinions. 



It is beside our object to give anything like a historical account 

 of the labours of the earlier writers. Those who are desirous of 

 the information, will find it detailed in the great work of Cuvier, 

 down to the period at which he wrote : and for subsequent opinions, 

 they may consult the ' Osteographie' of de Blainville, now in 

 course of publication, and the writings of Professor Owen, Bronn, 

 von Meyer, Kaup, and other palaeontological authors. 



Notwithstanding the earlier contributions of Daubenton, Pallas, 

 Merck, and the elder Camper, hardly anything was known regard- 

 ing the succession of the teeth in the Elephant, except that they 

 are repeated oftener than once during life, by protrusion in the 

 jaws from behind forward, till the appearance of the memoir by 

 Corse, 1 in the Philosophical Transactions of 1799. This ex- 

 cellent and careful observer had resided many years in India,- in 

 charge of a Government stud of Elephants in Bengal. By captures 

 of herds of the wild animal he had an opportunity of watching the 



1 Corse, Phil. Trans. 1799, vol. 89, p. 205. 



