ELEPHAS. 463 



ear-orifices, or rather a little below them and in front of them. 

 Nasal bones short and placed above the narial opening in the 

 skull, which opening is high on the face. Malar small, forming 

 only the middle part of the zygomatic arch, the anterior portion of 

 which is a process of the maxillary, quite unlike the arrangement 

 in true Ungulates. Vertebrae : C. 7, D. 19-21, L. 3-4, S. 4, 

 0. 26-33. 



In the limbs the upper or proximal segment (humerus or femur) 

 greatly exceeds in length the distal segment (manus or pes). The 

 ankle-joint or heel in the hind leg, corresponding to the hock of 

 other Ungulates, is very little raised above the ground. Pelvis and 

 scapula nearly vertical. Feet short and broad, the fore foot nearly 

 circular, the hind foot smaller, longitudinally oval. 



Elephants are purely herbivorous. There are two living species, 

 one peculiar to Africa, and distinguished by a differently shaped 

 head, larger ears, much fewer and differently shaped ridges on the 

 molar teeth, and other characters, and one found in India. 



332. Elephas maxinms. The Indian Elephant. 



Elephas maximus, L. Si/st. Nat. i, p. 48 (1766), partim. 

 Elephas indicus, Cuv. 'Regne An. i, p. 231 (1817) ; Kelaart, Prod. 

 p. 77 ; Slyth, Cut. p. 134 ; Falconer, Nat. Hist. Review, 1863, 

 pp. 81, &c. ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 229 ; W. Sclater, Cat. p. 206. 

 Elephas sumatranus, Temm. Coup d'ceil Pass. Neer. ii, p. 91 (1847) ; 

 ScMegel, Amsterdam, Verslag. Akad. xii, p. 101 (1861) j id. Nat. 

 Hist. Review, 1862, p. 72. 



Hathi (fern. Hathni), H. ; Hasti, Gdj'a, Sansc. ; Fil, Pers. ; Haunt, 

 Kashmiri ; Gdj, Beng. ; Ane, Tel., Tarn., Can., Mai. ; Ydni, Qond ; 

 Hattanga, Khondha Eniga, Tel ; Yanei, Kunjaram, Veranum, Mai. ; 

 Ata, Attia, Cing. ; Tengmu, Lepcha ; Ldngchen, Ldmboche, Bhotia ; 

 Mongma, Naplo, Garo ; Miyung, Cachari; Atche, Aka; Sotso, Supo, 

 Chu, Tsu, Naga ; Sitte, Abor ; Tsang, Khamti ; Magui, Singhpho ; Saipi, 

 Kuki ; Amieng, Mdnyong, Mishmi ; Sdmu, Manipuri ; Tsheng, Burm. ; 

 Tsing, Talain ; Tsan, Shan ; Kdhsa, Karen ; Gdja, Malay. 



Skin nearly naked. Tail with a row of long coarse hairs for a 

 few inches before and behind and round the end only. Five hoofs 

 normally on each fore foot, four hoofs on each hind foot. The number 

 of ridges in each molar from the first to the last is 4, 8, 12, 12, 16, 

 and 24, with slight variation. Males as a rule have well developed 

 tusks ; some males, known in India as maTcna, have merely short 

 tusks like females. 



Colour blackish grey throughout. The forehead, base of the 

 trunk, and the ears often mottled with flesh-colour. White 

 elephants are albinoes. 



Dimensions. The vertical height at the shoulder in adult elephants 

 is almost exactly twice the circumference of the fore foot. Adult 

 males do not as a rule exceed 9 feet, females 8 in height, but a 

 male has been measured by Sanderson as much as 10 feet 7* in. ; 

 Col. Hamilton says that Sir V. Brooke killed one of 11 feet; and a 



