258 PLINY'S NATUBAL HISTOBY. [Book VIII. 



to no other kind of disease. 63 I find it stated, that on making 

 them drink oil, any weapons which may happen to stick in their 

 body will fall out ; while, on the contrary, perspiration makes 

 them the more readily adhere. 64 If they eat earth it is poison 

 to them, unless indeed they have gradually hecome accustomed 

 by repeatedly doing so. They also devour stones as well ; but the 

 trunks of trees are their most favourite food. They throw down, 

 with a blow from their forehead, palms of exceeding height, 

 and when lying on the ground, strip them of their fruit. They 

 eat with the mouth, but they breathe, drink, 65 and smell with 

 [the proboscis], which is not unaptly termed their " hand." 

 They have the greatest aversion to the mouse of all animals, 66 

 and quite loathe their food, as it lies in the manger, if they 

 perceive that it has been touched by one of those animals. 

 They experience the greatest torture if they happen to swallow, 

 while drinking, a horseleech, an animal which people are be- 

 ginning, I find, to call almost universally a " blood-sucker." 67 

 The leech fastens upon the wind-pipe, and produces intolerable 

 pain. 



The skin of the back is extremely hard, that of the belly is 

 softer. They are not covered with any kind of bristles, nor yet 

 does the tail even furnish them with any protection from the 

 annoyance of flies ; for vast as these animals are, they suffer 

 greatly from them. Their skin is reticulated, and invites 

 these insects by the odour it exhales. Accordingly, when a 

 swarm of them has settled on the skin, while extended and 

 smooth, the elephant suddenly contracts it ; and, in this way, 



63 Cuvier remarks, that this statement is incorrect. He dissected three 

 elephants at Paris, and found that their death had been caused by inflam- 

 mation of the lungs and chest. The species of elephant, which now inhabits 

 Asia and Africa, is certainly not adapted to a cold climate ; but the nu- 

 merous remains of elephants found in the north of Asia, prove that a 

 species formerly existed, capable of enduring great cold. It is to be ob- 

 served, that this species was covered with a thick, furry coat of wool and 

 hair. B. 



64 This is from Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. viii. c. 26 ; but it is scarcely 

 necessary to remark, that it is without foundation. JElian, Anim. Nat. 

 B. ii. c. 18, refers to it, and explains it by supposing that the oil was not 

 drunk, but applied externally ; which is less improbable. B. 



65 They suck the fluid into the cavity of the trunk, and bend the trunk 

 into the mouth, where it is received and swallowed in the usual manner. B. 



6 This dislike is confirmed by Cuvier. B. 



67 -,ti Snno-m'aiirrfl " 



