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THE ELEPHANT OF AFRICA. 



Eleplias Africanus. CUVIER. 

 PLATE IV. 



EJephas Africanus, Cuvier, Regne Anim. E. Capensis, 

 Cuvier's Memoir et Hist. Elephant d'Afrique, Loxodon- 

 tes Africanus, Fred. Cuv. Hist. Nat. des Mammiffres. 



THIS animal is distinguished from the last by 

 its more rounded head, by its very large ears, 

 which cover the whole shoulder, descending upon 

 the legs, and are of such magnitude as to be 

 employed at the Cape of Good Hope as sledges 

 to draw tools to the field, and even to convey 

 the sick ; and by the form and structure of the 

 cheek teeth, which have the divisions of the 

 crown lozen-shaped, whence Fred. Cuvier has 

 given it his new generic name of Loxodontes. The 

 animal is also generally smaller in its proportions. 

 In the colour of the skin and hair, and scanty 

 distribution of the latter, there is little variation 

 from the last; and the red colour of the skin, taken 

 notice of by Vaillant, is owing to a similar cause 

 as that we mentioned when speaking of the Asiatic 

 Elephant. 



