MAMMALIA-ELEPHANT. 279 



FAMILY I.— PROBO SCIDE A. 

 In this family the individuals have their upper incisors in the form of 

 elongated tusks ; molars compound and in small number ; five toes on all 

 the feet ; nose prolonged into a proboscis. 



THE ELEPHANT. i 

 The human race excepted, the elephant is the most respectable of ani- 

 mals. In size, he surpasses all other terrestrial creatures, and in under- 

 standing he is inferior only to man. Of all the brute creation, the elephant, 

 the dog, the ape, and the beaver, are most admirable for their sagacity ; but 

 the genius of the dog is only borrowed, being instructed by man in almost 

 every thing he knows. The monkey has only the appearance of wisdom, 

 and the beaver is only sensible with regard to himself, and those of his 

 species. The elephant is superior to them all three : he unites all their 

 most eminent qualities. The hand is the principal organ of the monkey's 

 dexterity ; the elephant with his trunk, which serves him instead of arms 

 and hands, with which he can lift up, and seize the smallest, as well as the 

 largest objects, carry them to his mouth, place them on his back, hold them, 

 or throw them far off, has the same dexterity as the monkey, and at the 

 same time the tractableness of the dog. He is, like him, susceptible of 

 gratitude, capable of a strong attachment. He uses himself to man with- 

 out reluctance, and submits to him, not so much by force, as by good treat- 

 ment ; he serves him with zeal, intelligence, and fidelity. In fine, the 

 elephant, like the beaver, loves the society of his equals, and makes them 

 understand him. They are often seen to assemble together, disperse, act 

 in concert, and if they do not erect buildings, and do not work in common, 

 it is, perhaps, for want of room only, and tranquillity ; for men have 

 very anciently multiplied in all the regions inhabited by the elephant; he 

 consequently lives in fear and anxiety, and is no where a peaceful possessor 

 of a space large and secure enough to establish his habitation on a settled 

 spot. Every being in nature has his real price, and relative value; to judge 

 of both in the elephant, Ave must allow him at least the judgment of the 

 beaver, the dexterity of the monkey, the sentiment of the dog, and, to add 

 to these qualifications, the peculiar advantages of strength, size, and longe- 

 vity. We must not forget his arms, or his defence, with which he can pierce 

 uirough and conquer the lion. We must observe, that he shakes the ground 

 at every step ; that with his trunk he roots up trees ; that with the strength 



1 The genus Elephas, of which there are only two species, has two upper incisors or 

 tusks ; four upper and four lower molars. Tusks slightly arched towards tneir extremity, 

 composed of ivory cased in a crust of enamel ; molars composed of vertical and trans- 

 verse lamina? covered by enamel ; five toes on all the feet ; nose elongated into a cylindri- 

 cal proboscis, moveable in all directions, with a moveable appendix at the termination, 

 serving the purpose of a finger ; head very large; neck short; eyes small, lateral; ears 

 extremely flat and very large ; bodv large ar d massive ; tail short, tufted at the end ; two 

 mamma;. 



