THE EQUIVALENTS OF THE HAND. 105 



wrinkles, wliich disappeal" the more that the 

 animal elongates this organ ; but when it con- 

 tracts the trunk, or coils it in any dii'ection, 

 they are very apparent. The flexibility of the 

 trunk of the elephant is- astonishing, and this 

 flexibihty is owing to the multiplicity and 

 arrangement of the muscles which compose it, 

 and which, to the number of many thousands, 

 cross each other in all 'directions, and act in 

 obedience to the will. Hence it may be pro- 

 truded or contracted, folded up or turned and 

 twisted in every direction. Nof is its strength 

 less remarkable than its flexibility; it can 

 grasp bodies mth enormous force, wrench ofl:' 

 the branches of trees, or strike an enemy 

 prostrate. With "this instrument the elephant 

 collects its food, and .conveys it to the moutli, 

 and by its means the animal also drinks. In 

 the latter case the elephant sucks up the water 

 till the two canals of the trunk are filled, it 

 then turns the extremity of it into the mouth 

 and there gently discharges the fluid. The 

 animal can, however, throw the water out with 

 gr6at force, and in this manner often laves its 

 own body, or the persons of by-standers, with a 

 shower-bath. We may here allude to a con- 

 trivance for preventing the water taken into 



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