THE EQUIVALENTS OF THE HAND. 107 



derstood the actions of the raised up and then 

 extended proboscis ? Such, then, is the proboscis 

 of the elephant — an instrument combining in 

 itself the advantages of an arm and hand, at 

 once flexible, powerful, and sensitive. 



Though among existing quadrupeds the 

 elephant (under which term we include both 

 the Indian and African species) has a proboscis 

 thus developed, there are other animals which 

 present us with a more or less close approx- 

 imation to it, and among these we may particu- 

 larize the tapir. 



Distinct species of this animal inhabit 

 Sumatra and South America. Their general 

 form is hog-like, and the snout is produced 

 into a flexible proboscis suflficiently developed 

 to serve as a hook, or grasper, for drawing down 

 twigs, or for grasping bunches of herbage, 

 gourds, and other fruit, so as to direct them 

 into the mouth. 



In the common hog, the naked disc of the 

 snout, with its elevated and movable margin, 

 is endowed, to a considerable degree, with the 

 sense of touch; and this is evidenced by the 

 manner in which the hog uses the snout in 

 ploughing up the soft earth, or in turning over 

 and arranging the straw of the stye. 



