THE GAME ANIMALS OF AFRICA 



THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



(Elephas africanus) 



Oliphant, CAPE DUTCH ; NotJilovu, ZULUS ; Ncuba, MATABILI ; Tlilu, 

 BECHUANA ; Mbaus OR Elkanjauwtni, NDOROBODO ; Tembo AND 

 Ndovu, MOMBASA ; Marodi, SOMALI. 



THE African and Indian elephants are the sole existing representatives, 

 not only of the genus and family to which they belong, but likewise 

 of the suborder Proboscidea, which forms a peculiar section of the 

 Ungulata, or Hoofed Mammals. In addition to their huge bodily size 

 and clumsy build, elephants are characterised by the trunk, or proboscis, 

 into which the muzzle is produced, the presence of tusks in the upper 

 jaw, and the peculiar nature of the cheek-teeth. These latter are six 

 in number on each side of both the upper and lower ja\v, but only one, or 

 portions of two, are in use at any one time, the series increasing in size 

 from front to back, and the larger hind ones coming up into use as the 

 smaller front ones are worn away and taking their place. Each tooth 

 consists of a number of parallel transverse vertical plates of ivory overlaid 

 with enamel, and united together by a third substance known as cement, 

 which completely fills the intervening spaces ; the number of such plates 

 being least in the first and greatest in the last tooth of the series. When 

 worn down by use, the crowns present a number of narrow ellipses or 

 lozenge-shaped areas of ivory surrounded by a border of enamel, between 

 each of which are masses of cement. The massive cushion-like feet have 

 the position of the toes indicated by broad flat nails, of which there 

 may be either three or four in the hind-limb, and usually five in the 

 fore-limb. The bones of the limbs arc placed almost vertically above 



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