ELEPHAS PRIMIGENIUS.—SPINAL AXIS. 
147 
The Ilford scapula, as compared with that of the Asiatic Elephant, although shorter 
than the latter, is 65 inches broader. 
The acromion is near to the glenoid cavity in the Asiatic, but altogether there is little 
of much importance to distinguish the scapula of the Mammoth from that of the Asiatic 
Elephant, thereby adding an additional proof to the close dental and osteological characters 
of the two species; and doubtless, were the same parts of other allied species forthcoming, 
similar interesting data would be furnished. 
4. SPINAL AXIS. 
The various elements, in particular dorso-lumbar vertebrae of the Mammoth are 
plentiful in collections, but from their susceptibilities to injury are seldom found entire. 
The more perfect specimens belong to individuals from the frozen ice cliffs of Arctic 
lands, or were dredged from the basin of the German Ocean. 
Atlas. 
This element of the vertebral column of the Mammoth presents characters which, if 
persistent, would be very valuable in the differentiation of species ; but I find, as recorded 
at page 56, that there is individual variability both in the living and extinct species. 
However, the following seem worthy of notice. Referring to the atlases shown in 
PI. XVII, of the Mammoth, E. antiquus, and E. meridionalis , I have observed that the 
foramina for the first cervical nerve in the majority of first cervicals of the Mammoth 
open internally on the sides of the body, which are perpendicular, so that the apertures are 
not visible when viewed from above; and the same obtains in that of the Asiatic Elephant 
generally. I have seen several exceptions, however, in bones of both species. In E. 
meridionalis, E. Africanus, and E. antiquus it is quite visible from above, so that the 
internal surface of the canal is less perpendicular in them; but also this character may 
not be constant. The configuration of the anterior articular surfaces is nearly semilunar, 
as seen in fig. 1 , as compared with that of E. antiquus and E. meridionalis (figs. 2 and 3). 
Again, the greater width of the odontoid and vertebral canals in the Mammoth and 
A. antiquus will be seen to contrast with the same in E. meridionalis, the height to 
breadth being not so marked in the two former as in E. meridionalis , whilst the 
flattening of the upper aspect of the arch in them seems distinct from the round surface 
in the latter. But a series of specimens of the atlases of E. antiquus and E. meridionalis 
can only determine these apparent distinctions, which, as regards the Mammoth and 
Asiatic Elephant, seem disposed to individual variation. The atlas in the Mammoth 
seldom seems to exceed fifteen to sixteen inches in its greatest breadth, and eight inches 
in height, both of which measurements fall very short of that of the enormous cervicals. 
of E. meridionalis, and often of E. antiquus. 
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