72 MEMOIR OF CAMPER. 



interesting. He remarks, " The history of the great 

 quadrupeds which are strangers to the temperate 

 zone, especially require revision, and a judicious 

 comparison of former observations ; the most inaccu- 

 rate ideas are generally entertained of these colossal 

 animals, and the mechanism of their organs, and the 

 discrimination of the species is buried in deep ob- 

 scurity. It was reserved for comparative anatomy 

 to draw aside the yeil, and point out the differences 

 which distinguish the living species of the genus, as 

 well as their alliances with those branches of the 

 original stock, of which only fossil debris now re- 

 main. It has usually been supposed that the former 

 were descended from one identical family, and that 

 the latter were peculiar in every respect." " Cam- 

 per," says his son, " was the first of the moderns to 

 point out the distinctive characters of the genus, and 

 he immediately communicated his discoveries to 

 such of his acquaintances as were interested in Na- 

 tural History." He examines how far the tusks 

 constitute a ground of distinction ; at the same time 

 stating in which species, whether Asiatic, African, 

 or fossil, they are found or wanting ; and then points 

 out a less equivocal mark, in the minute structure of 

 the great molares, which both Blumenbach and Cu- 

 vier have adopted in their classifications. We may 

 describe this mark in the language of Blumenbach. 

 " ELEPHAS ASIATICUS, dentium molarium corona, 

 lineis undulatis distincta. ELEPHAS AFRICAN us, 



