10 
BRITISH FOSSIL ELEPHANTS. 
has four digitations with a small flattened posterior talon, the anterior talon being single 
and conical. There are altogether five ridges. Here, again, the thick plates with rugae 
and ribbing of the enamel are well shown ; the crown displays faint traces of wear. The 
thickness of the ridges in all of these molars is out of proportion with that of the 
Mammoth, and is even thicker in comparison than in the same tooth of the Asiatic, but 
agrees in this respect with that of the African and Maltese fossil Elephants. 1 
It will be seen, moreover, that they are only slightly larger than the equivalent molars 
of the Elephas Mnaidriensis with which, and possibly the other forms of Maltese fossil 
Elephants, they agree in often possessing a compressed connate fang, at all events in lower 
ante-penultimate molars. Unfortunately the extremities of the fangs are wanting, but for 
the distance of y^ths of an inch below the crown it is single, with a constriction down 
either side, forming two shallow grooves, which on a transverse section of the root divide 
the cavity into a large posterior and a smaller anterior hollow, equivalent to the posterior 
and anterior fangs in the upper molars (No. 44,783, B. M., just described). It would 
seem, however, that there was a bifurcation at x, fig. 2 a, inasmuch as the excentral 
depression is deeper at that point, and there is just an indication of a divergence on the 
anterior side close to the line of fracture. I think it likely, therefore, that the teeth may 
have been slightly furcate at the extremities of the fangs. 
As compared with the lower ante-penultimate molar of the Asiatic Elephant, No. 2811 
of the Osteological Collection, in the Royal College of Surgeons of England, it will be 
seen that the fangs diverge in the latter to form a large posterior and a smaller anterior 
fang. In connection with the connate condition of the fang I have been unable to 
ascertain if a similar condition exists in the same member of the series in the 
E. meridionalis and E. primigenim. Dr. Falconer makes no mention of the circumstance 
in describing their ante-penultimate molars f judging, however, from the alveolar socket 
in a mandibular ramus, No. 33,403, B. M., of Elepliasprimigenim, there is evidence of 
two pits. I believe, therefore, whether an abnormality or natural condition, it is clear, as 
demonstrated by the above specimens and the Maltese molars I have described, 3 that 
Mr. Busk’s view with reference to the connate condition in the Maltese fossil molar, 
referred to by Falconer, has been thoroughly substantiated, 4 and thus, as far as evidence 
extends, the character establishes an important relationship between the Eleplias anti quits 
and the Maltese forms. It will be interesting to notice how far the data will stand the 
test of further comparisons. 
The ante-penultimate milk molar varies in length and number of ridges in E. antiquus, 
as will be seen is the case also in the other species wherever sufficient materials have 
been obtained for comparison; and, as also obtains in this molar and in all members 
of the dental series, the maximum number of ridges is very generally found in the lower 
1 ‘ Trans. Zool. Soc. London,’ vol. ix, p. 10, pi. i, figs. 3—6 ; and vol. vi, p. 286, pi. liii, fig. 2. 
2 ‘Pal. Mem.,’vol. ii, pp. 114 and 161. 
3 1 Trans. Zool. Soc. London,’ vol. ix, p. 10. 
4 Ibidem, vol. vi, p. 286 (footnote). 
