220 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



entire length of the organ, and directly connecting 

 with nasal apertures in the skull of the animal. A 

 dense vomerine septum divides the chambers in the 

 proboscis, and connects with the osseous vomer of the 

 facial bones. Near the junction of the trunk with 

 the skull, there is a valvular arrangement in the nasal 

 chambers which is of use in sucking fluids and fine 

 substances into the proboscis which are afterward to 

 be discharged into the mouth or outwardly by means 

 of air expressed from the lungs. The creature uses 

 the trunk thus to spurt water upon its back and sides 

 when inclined to enjoy the luxury of a shower bath. 



The tusks of the elephant are a distinguishing 

 feature of the creature. They spring from the pre- 

 maxillary bones, hence are modifications of incisor 

 teeth. They correspond to the gnawing 'teeth of the 

 beaver and other rodents. The extinct mammoth 

 had two others which sprang from the lower jaw, 

 and projected forward. The dugong has two in the 

 inferior maxillary which curve downward as the 

 tusks of the elephant incline to turn upwtird. The 

 tusks of the elephant are largest in the male, and are 

 used as weapons, yet they become useful in breaking 

 down branches and in uprooting small trees while 

 food is gathered. 



The grinders of the elephant are compound teeth, 

 having ridges of dentine on their bruising surfaces. 

 Representatively, there is but one grinder in each 

 side of either jaw. The tooth springs from the alveolar 

 space in the deep and posterior recesses of the maxil- 

 laries, and while growing or developing moves for- 

 ward and its anterior thin edge breaks off, so that in 

 the course of several years the entire grinder is lost; 

 but before it is half wasted, another comes along in 



