Game Animals of India, etc. 



the animals of India, the elephant looms large in the 

 ancient traditions and religions of the country, figuring 

 in the Hindu mythology as Ganesa — the elephant- 

 headed god. From its ancient Sanscrit names Hasti 

 and Gaja are derived most of its titles among the Aryan 

 tribes of India ; while even the Malays, who speak a 

 tongue of totally different origin, have adopted the 

 latter of these names. Although now the sole repre- 

 sentative of its tribe in Asia, the Indian elephant is the 

 survivor of a host of species formerly inhabiting the 

 country from which it takes its name ; some of these 

 extinct species coming close to their descendant, while 

 others (mastodons) had teeth of a totally distinct type, 

 some even carrying tusks in the lower as well as in the 

 upper jaw. From the number of fossil species, coupled 

 with the fact that it is here alone that a complete transi- 

 tion is to be found between the mastodons and the 

 true elephants, it is probable that South-Eastern Asia 

 was the original home of the latter. 



As everybody knows an elephant by sight, while 

 many persons are acquainted with the leading external 

 differences between the Asiatic and the African species, 

 it will be unnecessary to point out the characteristics of 

 elephants in general, or to enter in detail into the 

 consideration of the features by which the two living 

 representatives of the group are distinguished from one 

 another. An exception in regard to one particular 

 feature of elephant anatomy may, however, be made, 

 seeing that comparatively few persons understand the 

 mode of development and replacement obtaining in the 

 teeth of these animals. 



As regards the tusks (which do not correspond to 

 the tusks of a wild boar, but to one of the pairs of 

 incisor or front teeth of that animal), these arise from 

 the upper jaw, and grow throughout the life of their 

 owner, after they have once made their appearance. In 

 very young elephants they are preceded by a pair of 

 milk-tusks, which are soon shed. 



