160' 



several very little eminences like a caterpillar's feet orr 

 the under side of this instrument, which without doubt 

 contributes to the sensibility of tha touch as well as the 

 firmness of the hold. Through this trunk the animal 

 breathes/ drinks, and smells ; and at the very point 

 of it, just above the nostrils, there is an extension of 

 the skin, above five inches long, in the form of a> 

 finger, and which, in fact, answers all the purposes 

 of one ; for with the rest of the extremity of the trunk 

 it is capable of assuming different forms at will, and 

 consequently of being adapted to the minutest objects. 

 By means of this, the elephant can untie the knots of 

 a rope, v unlock a door, and even write with a pen. It 

 sometimes happens, that the object is top large for the 

 trunk to grasp, in such a case the elephant makes use 

 of another expedient, it applies the extremity of the 

 trunk to the surface of the object, and, sucking up 

 its breath, lifts and sustains such a weight as the air in 

 that case is capable of keeping suspended. In this 

 manner this instrument is useful in most of the purposes 

 of life; it is an organ of smelling, of touching, and of 

 suction ; it not only provides for the animal's necessi. 

 tie?, but it also serves for ornament and defence. 



The K'gs are not so inflexible as the neck, yet they 

 are very stiff, and bend not without difficulty. Those* 

 before seem to be longer than the hinder, but, upon 

 being measured, are found to be something shorter. 

 The joints by which they bend are nearly in the mid- 

 dle, like the knee of a man, and tiie large bulk which 

 they are to support makes their flexure ungain. Yet 

 while the elephant is young it bends the legs to lie 

 down or rise, but when it grows old or sickly this be- 

 comes so inconvenient that tha animal chuses to sleep- 

 standing. 



It is one of the s.triking peculiarities of this animal, 

 that his generative powers totally fail when ho comes 

 under the dominion of man ; as if he seemed unwilling . 

 to propagate a race of slaves to increase the pride of his 

 conqueror. 



The elephant^ when once tamed, becomes the most 



