EEPOET ON A SKULL FEOM B.E.A. 
99 
Professor Osborn (of American fame) wrote a treatise on 
the development of elephants from prehistoric times, and 
the author (I am speaking from memory) depicts the earlier 
forms as animals somewhat resembling the present-day tapir 
(Tapirus terrestris). Evolution proceeded and the animal 
changed structurally in many ways, but during the continuance 
of many radical changes the same long-shaped, ovoid type of 
skull retained its essential characteristics, and the cervical 
vertebrae were antero-posteriorly much longer than is now the 
case in modern elephants. These two characteristics are very 
marked in the water-elephants, and M. Le Petit is most 
emphatic that the heads reminded him more of enormous 
tapirs than of any other existing animal. 
EEPOET ON A SKULL FEOM BEITISH EAST AFEICA 1 2 
By W. L. H. Duckworth, M.D., Sc.D., University Lecturer 
in Physical Anthropology, Cambridge 
I. Introductory 
The skull and scapula to be described in the following 
paragraphs were submitted to me for examination by the 
Council of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society. 
I desire to tender my cordial thanks to the Society for their 
kindness, and in particular I must express my gratitude to 
H.M. Senior Provincial Commissioner, C. W. Hobley, Esq., 
C.M.G., who has interested himself in the matter not only by 
making the arrangements necessary for the transmission of 
the specimens, but also in providing detailed information 
relating to the circumstances of their discovery. 3 
Mr. Hobley has thus ascertained that the skull and scapula 
were found by an Italian missionary at an altitude of 8000 feet 
1 Reprinted from Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. xlvi. by kind per- 
mission of Dr. Duckworth. 
2 Mr. J. W. T. McClellan kindly presented the specimen to the Society’s 
Museum. 
