66 STUDIES IN LIFE AND SENSE. 



spaces of the distinct bones are frequently seen to unite and thus to 

 throw the cavities of these bones into one. Such a modification 

 implies a far back adaptation of structure acting through countless 

 generations of elephantine forms ; and it is equally important to note 

 that the essential features of such modification are to be found in 

 other quadrupeds that, in short, the peculiarities of elephantine 

 skulls are not special and original creations, but merely modifications 

 of the ordinary quadruped cranium. 



A very short but strong neck, and powerful bony processes borne 

 on the joints thereof, serve as support and holdfasts respectively for 

 the huge cranium. In other parts of the skeleton, such as in the 

 shape and form of the shoulder-blade, the elephants resemble the 

 Rodent quadrupeds, such as the hares, rabbits, rats, beavers, &c. ; 

 and it has long been a notable fact of elephantine anatomy, that 

 this resemblance is by no means limited even to the bones. But a 

 somewhat ludicrous peculiarity of the elephants, readily noted by the 

 observer, and one referred to by both classic and modern poets, is 

 their awkward gait ; and this again depends upon a readily understood 

 anatomical modification. It is such a peculiarity that is referred to 

 in " Troilus and Cressida," in the lines 



The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy. 

 His legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure. 



And again, the phrase 



I hope you are no elephant, you have joints, 



evidently refers to the curious and ungainly movements of these 

 quadrupeds. The explanation of the elephantine gait rests primarily 

 with the length of the thigh-bone, and with the facts that this bone 

 is very long and lies perpendicularly to the line or axis of the spine ; 

 the thigh not forming an acute angle with the spine, as in other 

 quadrupeds. Thus, the "ham'^of the animal stretches half-way 

 down the thigh, and when the animal walks the bend of the knee or 

 leg at the latter point imparts a decided clumsiness to the gait. The 

 great body rests, not so much upon the toes, as upon the great pads 

 which unite the toes, and which in fact constitute a broad, flat sole 

 behind these members. Similar pads in the rhinoceros and hippopo- 

 tamus support the weight of the body. No collar-bones are deve- 

 loped in the elephant race ; a fact which, of course, bears a relation 

 to the absence of those movements, such as climbing, &c., in which 

 these bones play an important part, as serving to fix the limb em- 

 ployed. The brain of the elephant reveals certain points of anato- 

 mical interest. For example, the lesser brain or " cerebellum " is 

 not covered by the brain proper or " cerebrum ; " but the surface of 

 the latter is deeply convoluted or folded. The existence of deep 

 brain-convolutions in man is believed to be associated with a high 



