ELEPIIAS ANTIQUUS.—DENTITION. 
175 
They are now in the possession of J. J. Column, Esq., M.P., of the Clyffe, Corton, 
Lowestoft, to whom I am indebted for his kindness in permitting me to describe and 
illustrate them in this Monograph. 
It will be seen at a glance that they answer in every respect to the characters I have 
elsewhere laid down as diagnostic of the broad-crowned variety of E. antiquus} 
The contrast between the above and Plate V, fig, 1, of E. antiquus (with the exception of 
the angulations, which, however, as before stated, are often wanting, and not fully 
developed on newly invaded crowns) is striking ; on the other hand, compare the narrow 
crowns of the same species in the Plates II, III, and IY. 
The colossal dimensions of the former owner of these teeth makes the diagnosis of the 
bones met with in the Forest Bed doubly difficult, seeing that, although E meridionalis 
appears to have invariably exhibited gigantic proportions as compared with the usual 
remains of E. primigenius, the fact that teeth of E. antiquus are not uncommon, even in 
Post-Glacial deposits, of the dimensions of the largest specimens referable to E. meridionalis, 
must materially affect their diagnosis, not only on the score of size, but to a great extent 
as regards their specific characters. 
Dr. Falconer laid no little stress on the thickness of the plates and enamel as 
characteristic of E. meridionalis; but, as I have shown, and as he admitted by the 
recantation of the so-called E. prisons, these conditions may exist in E. antiquus. 
Alluding to the above ultimate molars in Mr. Colman’s Collection, they represent 
the right and left upper and lower. All show exactly the same condition of wear and 
clearly belonged to one individual. The lower molars were accidentally broken across 
since their removal from the deposit, but can be reunited without any detriment to 
measurement. 
I have selected the right upper and left lower as being in every way the more 
perfect specimens. The following are their characters : 
Upper molars .—The tooth of the right side (fig. 2) is encrusted with matrix, and its 
substance is in a perfect state of petrifaction. The two anterior talons have been broken 
across near their middle quite recently. These are followed by another pair, which take 
their origin about the middle, and are succeeded by the hollow shell, which characterises 
teeth with crowns one third detrited. The tooth holds x 20 x in 13x4 inches. 
The remarkable breadth of four inches is noteworthy, as compared with E. 
meridionalis. 
The posterior talon is a single digitation and an inch in height. There are eight 
digitations along the inner sides of the last eight ridges, as if the tooth had been bent on 
itself in the germ state—a condition referred to as existing in the molar of E. primi- 
There are five ridges in three and a half inches. 
The height of the thirteenth colline is 7 inches. 
1 Page 32. 
3 Page 121. 
