FALCONER ON THE AMERICAN FOSSIL ELEPHANT. 
83 
tinental Indian form, (Schlegel in Temminck). Ribbons of enamel 
nearly quite as wide as in the African Elephant. (C. L. Buonaparte). 
(C.) Vertebras and ribs. — The following numerical differences 
have been indicated by Prof. Schlegel; they vary in some unimpor¬ 
tant respects, according to the statements of different dates: 
j African 
Elephant. 
Sumatran 
Elephant. 
Indian 
Elephant. 
In 
Temminck. 
Schlegel. 
In 
Temminck. 
Schlegel. 
In 
Temminck. 
Schlegel. 
Cervical vertebrae 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
Dorsal vertebrae 
21 
21 
20 
20 
19 
19 
Lumbar vertebrae 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
Sacral vertebrae 
1 
4 
4 
4 
5 
4 
Caudal vertebrae 
26 
26 
34 
33 
34 
33 
*True ribs 
6 
5 
6 
5 
6 
5 
Ealse ribs 
15 
16 
14 
15 
13 
14 
Pairs of ribs 
21 
21 
20 
20 
19 
19 
According to this table, the Continental Indian Elephant has 
only 19 dorsal vertebrae and 19 pairs of ribs ; while the Sumatran 
species has 20 of each, the African Elephant having 21; being differ¬ 
ences which, if proved to be constant, would be of considerable sys¬ 
tematic importance. 
The difference in external form, between the Indian and African 
species, is so pronounced, that either can be told off at a glance, 
even from the stamp of a Greek or Roman coin. Admitting the 
general form and small ears to be alike, in the Indian and Sumatran 
Elephants, Professor Schlegel has only a slight difference in slender¬ 
ness of the general proportions, a more slender form of the trunk, and 
a larger terminal fringe of bristles to the tail,t to rely upon. But 
* Schlegel expressly states, “ that the number of true ribs is alike in all the 
species, that is only fivebut there is evidently a numerical slip in the ciphers 
which he immediately afterwards assigns to the false ribs, namely, 15, 14, and 13 
respectively, in the three different species, which would give a total of 20, 19, and 
18, instead of 21, 20, and 19, being the asserted aggregate of pairs corresponding 
with the assigned number of dorsal vertebras in the different species. (Nat. Hist. 
Review, Yol. ii. p. 75). 
f The distinctions indicated were, according to the statement of Prof, Schlegel, 
founded on the observation of Heer Westermann, upon two female Elephants in the 
Zoological Garden at Amsterdam, the one from Calcutta, the other Sumatran. It 
must be admitted, that the number of objects compared, is hardly sufficient to sus¬ 
tain the position. The original passage in Schlegel’s memoir is thus:—“Dathet 
“ een’ langeren en dunneren snuit heeft; dat de Staart aan het einde meer afgeplat 
“ en met langere, zware haren bezet is,” &c. The version given in the ‘ Nat. Hist. 
a 2 
