ELEPHAS ANTIQUUS—TRUE MOLARS. 
29 
A mandible, No. 28,114, B. M., from Bracklesham Bay, has a molar in situ. It 
contains x 13 a; in 8 inches. Here we have a good illustration of the circumstance just 
noticed in connection with the pressure marks of advancing teeth; although all excepting 
the last ridge are invaded, only an insignificant portion of cement has been displaced on 
the heel; in fact, there is no deep pressure scar, although the ultimate molar must have been 
on the point of cutting the gum, as its empty socket testifies. Moreover, the crown of 
the molar, being protected by a fragment of the first true molar, has preserved its natural 
round front, which contrasts with the tapering hinder portion. The former condition is 
worthy of note, inasmuch as a molar unprotected by a fragment of the preceding tooth 
is, as elsewhere observed, liable to have its anterior portion ground down laterally as well 
as horizontally, and will therefore give a different aspect to the crown view. 
The left tooth in the lower jaw, No. 33,366, B. M., dredged up at Happisborough, 
exactly proves the truth of this view as regards the two varieties of outline of the crowns 
of worn teeth. Here there is no trace of a preceding tooth, so that the front of the 
penultimate is ground down not only horizontally but laterally, and is therefore narrow 
in front. It holds x\Hx in 8 inches. There are other specimens illustrative of this 
condition in the National Collection. 
A left upper molar, No. 33,330, B. M., dredged off Happisborough, is entire, with 
two anterior fangs and a general coalescence of the base posteriorly. The crown is just 
commencing wear, there being seven ridges invaded, with none of their digitations worn 
out. The specimen, evidently entire, holds fifteen ridges, or x 13 x in 9 inches. There 
is faint crimping of the enamel of the disk, but otherwise it has more the aspect of a 
crown surface of a last molar of E. meridionalis. This is one of the doubtful molars 
which, on account of not being sufficiently advanced in wear, presents no characteristic 
features whereby it can be placed with members of the penultimate true molar; indeed, 
the specific distinctions are by no means pronounced. 
A broken left lower molar, No. 20,809, B. M., from Ilford, has its anterior ridges 
just invaded. It has thick plates, and is clearly a true molar of E. antiquus. There 
are ten ridges in 6 inches. 
A molar of the lower jaw much arcuated with the loss of posterior ridges, and 
numbered 599 in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, is probably of this 
stage of growth. It is from the “ Parkinson Collection,” and from the “ Drift or 
Pleistocene Beds of Staffordshire.” The crown is little more than invaded in front, 
and holds fourteen ridges in 8 inches. 
Foreign specimens .—Distinctive mandibular specimens are cited by Dr. Falconer 
from the Quaternary deposits of Monte Verdi, where teeth of thirteen ridges are contained 
each in 9T inches. They are said to show very typical disks of E. antiquus ; l a fragment 
in a ramus showing the thick plates, from Rome, will be noticed presently when this 
