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Andrews and named "Meritherium" by him, signifying "the beast of the Lake Meris." It had no trunk, and whilst it had six small and simplified mastodon-like grinders in each half of each jaw, it had six incisors in the upper jaw and a canine or corner tooth on each side. In the lower jaw there were only two large incisors besides the cheek-teeth or grinders.
And, in fact, we are conducted through a series of changes of form by ancient elephant-like creatures which are of older and older date as we pass along the series, and are known as Mastodon, Tetrabelodon, Palæomastodon, Meritherium, until we come to something approaching the general form of skull and skeleton and the typical dentition of the early mammalian ancestor.
Not the least interesting point about Meritherium is that it tells us which of the front upper teeth have become the huge tusks of the later elephants. Counting from the middle line there are in Meritherium three incisors right and three left. The second of these upper teeth on each side is much larger than the others. Head of the early ancestor of elephants Meritherium as it appeared in life.