MASTODON ANGUSTIDENS. 127 



observations, I could not examine so closely as to justify their insertion in Mastodon 



Humbold- 



this place. Both of the species, however, have the general aspect of the w 



narrow-toothed group. 



■ 



MASTODON ANGUSTIDENS. 



The name of Angustidens was given by Cuvier to Mastodons having Mastodon 



Angusti- 



teeth different from those of Mastodon Giganteus in their comparative dens, 

 narrowness. There have been, however, great differences of opinion in 

 regard to the species for wnich this name has been reserved ; some authors 

 having included under this appellation the whole group of narrow-toothed 

 Mastodons, while others have divided them into a number of species. 



Without entering into any a minute description of the Mastodon Angus- 

 tidens, of which, in fact, I have seen very few remains, excepting the teeth, 

 we will mention some of the peculiarities which European authors have 

 noticed. According to De Blainville, the coronoid process of the lower jaw 

 is lower than the condyle, and the horizontal branch is more rounded 

 externally and inferiorly, — differences which approximate it slightly to 

 the living elephants. But its chief distinction is, that this horizontal 

 branch in front of the molars, instead of terminating in a short beak, more 

 or less acute, or even in a sort of short and truncated gutter as in the 

 Mastodon Giganteus, forms a long horizontal semi-canal, slightly inclined 

 downwards, and which, after being dilated and flattened at its extremity, 

 displays two alveoli empty, or occupied by inferior tusks. In the last 

 particular it corresponds with the Mastodon Tetracaulodon, or male Mas- 

 todon Giganteus ; and it is probable that the jaw, in which the mandibular 

 tusks appeared, was that of a male Mastodon Angustidens : on this, 



