138 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD 



one complete functioning molar, with a worn-out portion of its 

 predecessor in front of it and a portion of the crown of the 

 molar behind it just beginning to show wear. 



The male Indian elephant seldom exceeds the height of nine 

 feet; the female is about a foot less. The age to which an ele- 

 phant may live is often greatly exaggerated. The oldest authen- 



Fig. 56 — Asiatic Elephant 



tic record is about eighty years ; an elephant of fifty may be 

 regarded as old. It is now reasonably well proved that the 

 greatest span of an elephant's life is less than that of a man. 



The female elephants carry their young from eighteen to 

 twenty-two months before birth. The newborn calf is about 

 three feet high and weighs about two hundred pounds. At this 

 time the trunk is short, not very flexible, and is not used in 

 suckling. 



Elephants feed entirely on vegetable matter and consume 



