ON THE FOSSIL BONES OF THE ELEPHANT. 



and of the Molares of the Indian Elephant. 



2&7 



Indian Grinders. 



Total 

 Number 



of 

 Plates. 



Lower. 



Head of the skeleton of 



Mookna 



Separate head of Mookna 

 Separate tooth from the 

 Cabinet of M. Faujas 



From the skeleton of Den- 

 telah 



Separate tooth of the Ca- 

 binet of Anatomy 



Tooth of a separate head of 

 Dentelah, Ceylon 



Anterior tooth of the fe- 

 male skeleton of the Museum 



XV. 



XV. 



XIII. 



Number 



of 



Plates 



Worn. 



10 



12 



12 



13 



10 



10 



Total 

 Length. 



0,230 

 0,205 



0,200 



0,182 



0,192 



0,240 



0,185 



Length 

 of the 

 Plates 

 Worn. 



Width. 



0,156 

 0,110 



0,158 



0,192 



0,215 



0,185 



0,065 

 0,055 



0,054 



0.060 



0,065 



0.065 



0,075 



Neither can we arrive at a perfect knowledge of the limits of the 

 fossil tusks in point of smallness. The smaller have been much less 

 carefully preserved, as they did not so much excite the attention of the 

 workmen. 



But we have an accurate knowledge of their limits in point of large- 

 ness. The larger have not been neglected ; and those who have de- 

 scribed them have not been tempted to diminish their size. 



I annex a table which I have drawn up, of the largest fossil tusks, 

 the dimensions of which have been given. By this it will be observed, 

 that they are not vastly superior to those of living elephants — at least 

 of those of the African species. 



Moreover, we may observe that if the elephant were permitted to 

 exist in the wild state, during the natural period of its existence, its 

 tusks, measuring from year to year, would attain to a size still 

 more considerable than that which most commonly distinguishes 

 them. 



