96 PACHYDERMES. 



and is in most instances nearly destitute of hair, 

 except a few stiff stragglers about the head, 

 shoulders, or end of the tail. In the Elephant, 

 Rhinoceros, and Hippopotamus, where these 

 characters are most strongly marked, the skin is 

 thick and deeply furrowed ; and the epidermis, 

 which is also thick, is bristled upon the surface 

 with little plates, which detach themselves from it 

 like scales. The sole of the foot, according to 

 Cuvier, presents a very singular structure. It is 

 divided outwardly into nearly circular deep pits, 

 in each of which are contained a number of 

 small irregular polygones, which make the surface 

 appear like a chagrined skin.* 



The males are in most instances furnished with 

 tusks, which often grow to an immense size and 

 weight. Both jaws are sometimes furnished with 

 these elongated teeth, which express the distinctive 

 mark of the male, and are used as organs of offence 

 or defence, being seldom employed, or indeed 

 being scarcely fitted for assisting in any of the 

 wants of the animal. It is from these organs that 

 the ivory of commerce is derived. But the 

 -emarkable part of the structure of these animals 

 te seen in that of the nostrils. In the greater 

 portion of them they are elongated, the entrance 

 of the nostrils forming a tube, which is used as 



* Le9ons d' Anatomic Comparee. 



