170 MAMMALIA. 



which we designate collectively by the term Pachydermatay 

 admit of subdivision into families. 



The first is that of the Pachydermata which have a pro- 

 boscis and tusks. 



FAMILY I. 



PROBOSCIDIANA.(l) 



The Proboscidians have five toes to each foot, very com- 

 plete in the skeleton, but so encrusted by the callous skin 

 which surrounds the foot, that their only external appearance 

 is in the nails attached to the edge of this species of hoof. 

 They have no canini or incisors properly so called, but in 

 their incisive bone are implanted two tusks, which project 

 from the mouth, and frequently attain to an enormous size. 

 The magnitude requisite for the alveoli of these tusks ren- 

 ders the upper jaw so high, and so shortens the bones of the 

 nose, that the nostrils in the skeleton are placed near the top 

 of the face ; but in the living animal they are continued out 

 into a cylindrical trunk or proboscis, composed of several 

 thousands of small muscles, variously interlaced, extremely 

 flexible, endowed with the most exquisite sensibility, and ter- 

 minated by an appendage resembling a finger. This probos- 

 cis is to the Elephant what the hand is to the Monkey. 

 With it he seizes every thing he wishes to convey to his 

 mouth, and sucks up the water he is to drink, which, by the 

 flexure of this admirable organ, is then poured into his throat, 

 thus supplying the want of a long neck, whose weakness 

 Avould have rendered it unable to support so large a head and 

 such heavy tusks. Within the parietes of the cranium, how- 

 ever, are several great cavities, which render the head lighter; 

 the lower jaw has no incisors whatever; the intestines are 

 very voluminous, the stomach simple, caecum enormous, and 



(1) The Proboscidians have various affinities with certain Rodentia: 1, their 

 great incisors ; 2, their grinders frequently composed of parallel lamina: ; 3, the 

 form of several of their bones, &c. 



