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greater discrepancy in the thickness of the plates than really exists in the 

 species ; and the like caution is still more requisite in the comparison of 

 the molars of the Mammoth (Elephas primigenius) , which having nor- 

 mally more numerous and thinner plates than in the existing Asiatic 

 Elephant, presents a much greater range of variety. That such variety 

 is characteristic, and depends upon the complete structure, of a parti- 

 cular part of the enduring remains of the Mammoth, may be inferred 

 from the absence of any corresponding difference in the bones of the 

 Mammoth that have hitherto been found, all of which indicate but one 

 species. And this conclusion harmonizes with the laws of the geogra- 

 phical distribution of the existing species of Elephant. Throughout the 

 whole continent of Africa but one species of Elephant has been recog- 

 nised. A second species of Elephant ranges over the southern parts of 

 Asia and a large adjacent island ; and the results of extensive and minute 

 observations of this species, whilst they make known some well-marked 

 varieties, as the Mooknah, the Dauntelah, &c, founded on modification 

 of the teeth, establish the unity of species to which those varieties belong. 



Jaws and teeth in situ. 



620. A portion of the upper jaw of the Mammoth, including the bony palate 

 and a molar tooth on each side : the summits of all the transverse plates 

 are exposed by abrasion, and the surface of the crown, which is five 

 inches in length, exposes thirteen of them ; the grinding surface is very 

 nearly flat. The remains of the socket of the smaller anterior molar, 

 which has been shed, are visible on each side. From the anterior margin 

 of this socket to that of the tusk measures three inches three lines ; 

 the anterior interspace of the two molars is two inches three lines ; the 

 breadth of the palate at their posterior extremities is four inches ; the 

 palate is relatively wider and more concave than in the Mastodon ele- 

 vhantoides. On comparing these molars with the corresponding ones of 

 nearly the same size in the Asiatic Elephant, the first difference obser- 

 vable is the fewer number and larger size of the transverse plates in the 

 recent Elephant, the grinding surface, in a length of six inches, present- 

 ing the summits of ten plates ; they arc narrower in proportion to the 



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