2 AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



one another, as in the human leg, in consequence of which the upper 

 portion of each limb is largely free from the body, instead of being 

 partially enclosed in the same, as in the great majority of Hoofed 

 Mammals. There are, of course, many other striking peculiarities in 

 the structure of elephants, but the above are sufficient to distinguish 

 them from all other living animals. 



Externally the African species is characterised by its enormous 

 ears, convex forehead, concave back (of which the shoulder forms the 

 highest point), the presence of tusks in both sexes, the reduction of 

 the nails on the hind-foot to three, and the existence of a finger-like 

 process on both the front and hind margins of the tip of the trunk. 

 The trunk, too, is of a peculiar type, looking as if composed of a 

 number of rings decreasing in calibre towards the tip, instead of 

 forming a continuous indiarubber-like tube. Another distinctive 

 feature is the great freedom of the upper part of the hind-leg from the 

 body. More important than all is the comparatively small number of 

 plates entering into the composition of each molar or grinding-tooth ; 

 the worn surface of each of these plates showing a lozenge-shaped 

 ellipse of ivory surrounded by a raised band of the harder enamel. 



In common with other species of big game whose range comprises 

 the greater part of the" continent south of the northern tropic, the 

 African elephant displays marked local variation ; such variations being 

 apparent alike as regards bodily size and shape, the form and 

 proportionate dimensions of the ears, and the length, calibre, and 

 curvature of the tusks. As regards bodily size, adult males from East 

 Central Africa (as exemplified by specimens in the British and Royal 

 Scottish Museums) not uncommonly attain a height at the shoulder of 

 i i feet 3 or 4 inches ; while an elephant from Wadelai is stated to 

 have stood I i feet 6 inches, and the stature of a specimen from 

 Abyssinia has been given as i i feet 8^ inches. That monsters may 

 occasionally reach a dozen feet in height is, therefore, by no means im- 

 probable, although we have no definite record of such stature being 

 attained ; and, indeed, owing to the difficulty of taking measurements, 

 records of large specimens are comparatively few. On the other hand, 

 there seems little doubt that in some part of the Congo territory there 

 exists a relatively pigmy race of elephant, although, as the only 

 definitely known example was not adult when described, details on 

 this point are not yet available. 



The largest tusk in England is one from East Central Africa 

 in the collection of Sir E. G. Loder, which measures 10 feet 4 inches 

 in length, with a girth of 26 inches, and weighs 235 Ib. ; next comes 



