T H E E L E P H A N T. ijj 



The ftrongefi: and largeft of quadrupeds ; yet, neither fierce nor 

 formidable. Mild, peaceful, and brave, it never abufes its power, and 

 only exerts its force for its own proteftion. Is a focial creature: the oldefl: 

 condudl the band ; the young, the weak, and fickly, fall into the 

 centre} the females carry their young, and keep them from falling by 

 means of their trunks. Wherever they march, the forefts fcem to fall 

 before them; they bear down the branches upon which they fecdj and, if 

 they enter an inclofure, quickly deftroy the labours of the hufbandman. 



They delight to live along the fides of rivers, in the deepeft vales, 

 in the moil fhady forefts. They cannot live far from water, and always 

 difturb it before they drink. Often fill their trunk, either to cool ir, or 

 to divert themfelves by fpurting it out like a fountain. Are equally 

 diftreOed by extremes of heat and cold. 



Their food is vegetable. 



The elephant is remarkable for its hearing. Appears delighted with 

 mufic, readily learns to beat time, to move in meafure, and even to join 

 its voice to the found of the drum and the trumpet. 



Its fenfe of fmelling is exquifite, pleafed with the fame odours that 

 delight mankind. Gathers flowers with great pleafure, picks them up 

 one by one, unites them into a nofegay, and feems charmed with the 

 perfume. The orange flower feems to be particularly grateful to it. 



In the fenfe of touching, it excels all the brute creation, and perhaps 

 even man. This fenfe lies wholly in the trunk, which is, properly 

 fpeaking, only the fnout lengthened out, hollow, ending in two openings, 

 or noftrils. An elephant of fourteen feet high has the trunk about eight 

 feet long, and five and an half in circumference at the mouth, v.here it 

 is thickeft: a partition runs through it. Is capable of being length- 

 ened or Ihortened, bent or flraightened, pliant, yet ftVong. To aid its 

 grafp, are feveral little eminences, like a caterpillar's feet, en the under- 

 fide, which probably contribute to the fenfibility of its touch. Through 

 this trunk the animal breathes, drinks, and fmells: at the very point of 

 it, juft above the noftrils, is an extenfion of fkin, about five inches long, 

 in the form of a finger. By this, the elephant can take a pin from the 

 ground, untie the knots of a rope, unlock a door, and even write. By- 

 iucking up its breath through the extremity of the trunk, it lifts and fuf- 

 tains a weight. 



The neck is fo fiiort that it can fcarce turn its head. The legs bend 

 not without difficulty. While the elephant is young, it bends the legs 

 to lie dowpi when old, or fickly, this is not performed without afTiftance. 



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