ELEPHAS ANTIQUUS—DENTITION. 
7 
Long Hole (1), Minchin Hole, Raven’s Cliff, Spritsail Tor (1) in Glamorganshire 
(Ealconer) ; Durdham Down (1) in Somersetshire (Ealconer); Portland Fissure, in Dorset¬ 
shire (Busk); Castletown Bone Caves, Staffordshire (Dawkins). 
II.—DENTITION. 
The classification of Elephants, founded on the number of laminae and the relative 
proportions and structure of the enamel, dentine, and cement, has received valuable 
exponents in the divisions instituted by Ealconer into the sub-genera Stegodon, Loxodon, 
and Eulephas; moreover, believing in the persistency and uniformity of the characters of 
molar teeth through seemingly vast intervals of time as displayed in the Mammoth, 1 he 
formulated the colliculi in the successive teeth, and maintained their specific constancy 
within a moderate range of individual variation. He did not admit intermediate forms, 
and therefore viewed the dentition as broadly distinctive of species. It seems to me, 
after a critical examination of the dental materials of Proboscidea, that a rigorous 
adherence to numerical formulae as regards the molars of Elephants in general and 
Elephas antiquus in particular as established by Dr. Ealconer is incompatible with the 
results furnished by a close analysis of abundant specimens; indeed, as regards the very 
variable characters of the molars of the Elephant under consideration, it will be evident 
that they present very close affinities in all available characters to other teeth at present 
considered as belonging to distinct species, and consequently the susceptibility of mutation 
must be considered as an important etiological fact in the genesis of the species. 
In estimating the number of ridges entering into the composition of a molar it has 
been the habit with several observers to eliminate the talon ridges, and only include the 
laminae which arise from the common base. Now, as the proximal and distal ridges 
vary very much in size and configuration, it is apparent that the rejection of any single 
ridge however dwarfed or insignificant must greatly interfere with the accuracy of a 
ridge formula established from a large assortment of materials. I have, therefore, 
in the following included talon ridges at all worthy of the name, whether arising from 
the common base or from a plate. 3 
1. INCISORS. 
I can find no reference anywhere to the milk incisor of Elephas antiquus either in 
museums or in published accounts. It seems to be unknown. Whether, therefore, like the 
1 Essay on the American fossil Elephant, ‘Pal. Memoirs,’ vol. ii, p. 252; also ‘Natural History 
Review’ for January, 1863. 
2 In giving the ridge formula I have carried out the method adopted by Dr. Falconer and others of 
making represent the talon. 
