18 THE ELEPHANT. 



on the nose is sometimes three feet in length, x>f a fibrous 

 texture, conical, and tapering to a point. * The eyes are 

 very small. 



Two-horned Rhinoceros. This animal is a native of 

 Africa. In most of his habits he appears to resemble the 

 single-horned species. Such is his enormous strength, 

 that when alarmed or pursued, he rushes through the 

 forests, bearing down before him the dead and withered 

 trees, almost as if they were cut off, says Mr. Bruce, by 

 a cannon-shot. 



The principal difference betwixt this and the last spe- 

 cies, consists in its skin being smooth, and, in a great 

 measure, destitute of those vast armour-like folds, so con- 

 spicuous in that ; and in its having, upon the nose, two 

 horns instead of one. 



10. ELEPHANT TRIBE. 



There is only one clearly-ascertained species of Ele- 

 phant. 



The Elephant. It cannot but fill the mind with un- 

 usual conceptions of greatness and sublimity, to see so 

 huge a mass of matter as the Elephant in a state of 

 animation. His height being sometimes more than twelve 

 feet, and his bulk in full proportion, he is, of course, en- 

 dowed with enormous strength. His legs appear like 

 stout and massive pillars ; but by no means too stout 

 for the ponderous fabric they have to support. Power- 

 ful as he is, the Elephant contents himself with vegetable 

 food, attacks no one, and, whilst unmolested, although 

 he is the largest and strongest, he is, at the same time, 

 the most peaceful and gentle beast of the forest. His 

 dispositions, indeed, are even amicable, social, and 



