406 



INTEODTTCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



The order contains but nine genera, divided into thirty-nine 

 or foi'ty species,* and comprises the most gigantic of all living 

 quadrupeds. Tliey are found chiefly in the countries of the 

 torrid zone. No animal whatever belonging to this order is 

 found in Australia. 



The Indian and the African Elephants are distinct species, 

 and these terms point out the countries in which they are 

 indigenous. The Hippopotamus or " Eiver-horse," whose 

 bulk is scarcely inferior to that of the Elephant, is peculiar to 

 Africa, and even to certain districts of that continent. There 

 are no less than seven species of Ehinoceros, which are dis- 

 tributed through both Asia and Africa. Of the group of 

 which the Swine is the representative, the Wild Boar {Fig. 

 820) only is found in any part of Eui-ope. The Wart Hogs 



Fig. .S20.— Wild Bo.ut. 



belong solely io Africa, and the Peccaries to America. The 

 Tapirs, which are distinguished from all other animals by their 

 prolonged"" and flexible snout {Fig. 292), ai'e common to both 

 the Old and the New World. 



The Horse is universally distributed, either in a wild or a 

 domesticated state. Fossil remains of a species distinct from 



* They are thus enumerated by Berghalis and Johnston : — 

 Elephants, 2 species. Damans, 3 species. Peccaries, 2 species. 

 Hippopotamus, If „ Swine, 9 „ Tapirs, 3 „ 



Ehinoceros, 7 „ Wart Hogs, 3 „ Horses. 9 „ 



t It is generally considered that there are at least two species. 



