86 



THE TUSKS. 



Tusks. The tusks, anatomically considered, are incisor teeth enormously developed. 

 In the modern elephants, they attain the length of six feet or more ; not 

 being generally of such magnitude as those of the Mastodon. 



Besides the regular intermaxillary tusks, there- are two very small ones 

 which show themselves in the upper jaw at the earliest period of life, but 

 Number, shortly disappear, and are succeeded by the permanent tusks. This is 

 shown by cutting into the tusk-socket of our calf elephant head. The fact, 

 well established in regard to the elephant, seems to afford presumption, 

 that, besides the gr,eat intermaxillary tusks of the Mastodon, there may be 

 others in the upper or lower jaw. which, appearing at an early period of 

 life, are, in the greater number of instances, lost before the animal has 

 advanced far in its existence. 



In the present specimen of the Mastodon, there are two tusks in the 

 upper, and one in the lower jaw on the left side. Two undoubtedly existed 

 in the lower jaw at an early period of life, as the relic of the right cavity 

 is perfectly distinct, retaining a depth of an inch and a half, and nearly 

 its original diameter. 



The Superior Tusks. — The tusks of the upper jaw were ten 'feet and 



