320 EXTRACTS PROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 



emblems as that one in which wisdom and universal power, or the deity GanessA, 

 is characterised by the Elephant's trunk. It arises by strong muscular fibres 

 from the interior part of the os frontis, the essa nasi, and superior maxillary 

 bones, and may be characterised as a flexible fleshy process, extending from its 

 origin to the ground, being longer or shorter, smaller or larger, according to the 

 height and size of the individual Elephant it belongs to. It is covered by the | 

 common integuments, and tapers gradually from the attachment with the skull, 

 to its point ; where it is terminated on its anterior side by a finger-like process 

 jutting beyond the posterior termination. The inner side of this finger is not 

 covered by the common integuments, and in it seems to be concentrated the 

 whole sense of touch belonging to the animal, and that to a most exquisite extent. 

 The trunk is divided along its mesial line by a strong and thick membranous 

 partition into two equal-sized cylindrical canals, which communicate with the 

 nares and throat, and are each lined by a membrane similar to that forming the 

 partition between them ; this membrane does not appear to be furnished with 

 any secretory apparatus, and the walls of each canal are ever apart, owing to the 

 strong nature of the centre partition and lining membrane. The canals are not 

 true cylinders, being flat on their lower side, and arched on the upper, precisely 

 in the same manner as is the trunk itself. Through these canals the animal 

 breathes and smells, and with them he raises water by suction, and transfers it 

 to the pharynx through the mouth to be swallowed. I could not discover the 

 means by which the water is prevented from passing directly into the throat ; if 

 this apparatus exists in the canals of the trunk, it must be immediately at the 

 external orifice of the nares, for throughout the entire length of the trunk proper, 

 there is no means for bringing the sides of the canals in opposition. — India 

 Review, August, 1837. 



2. Sagacity of Animals. — A late number of the Bibliotheque UniverscUe 

 contains some remarkable and well-ascertained instances of animal sagacity, from 

 . which we select the following : — 



A person lodging in one of the fauxbourgs observed daily, for several weeks, 

 six Dogs, who used regularly to come at the same hour, and assemble in an 

 adjacent meadow, where they sported and amused themselves. The motive of 

 their assembly was as obviously the purpose of sport as that of persons who go to 

 a ball or a spectacle, at an appointed hour. 



An attempt was made to teach a Dog to mount a ladder ; but the animal was 

 soon fatigued with the exercise, and escaped. But the next day he was seen to 

 return to the ladder alone, and voluntarily endeavour to succeed in mounting it, 

 as if the motive of ambition impelled him to renew the attempt. 



A milkman who used to go before the break of day in winter to fetch milk 

 from a farmer who. supplied him, had a Dog whom he employed to carry his 



