143 PACHYDERM ATA. 



time, a peculiar shrill squeak through his trunk, as he had for- 

 mer.ly been known to do. By this circumstance, he was imme- 

 diately recognized by every person who had been acquainted 

 with his peculiarity." 



When bogged in swamps, the elephant shows a sagacity which 

 is remarkable. "The cylindrical form of his leg, which is 

 nearly of equal thickness, causes the animal to sink very deep 

 in heavy ground, especially in the muddy banks of small rivers. 

 When thus situated, the animal will endeavor to lie on his side, 

 so as to avoid sinking deeper ; and for this purpose will avail 

 himself of every means to obtain relief. The usual method of 

 extricating him is by supplying him liberally with straw, boughs, 

 grass, &c. These materials being thrown to the distressed ani- 

 mal, he forces them down with his trunk, till they are lodged 

 under his fore feet in sufficient quantity to resist his pressure. 

 Having thus formed a sufficient basis for exertion, the sagacious 

 animal next proceeds to thrust other bundles under his belly and 

 as far back under the flanks as he can reach ; when such a ba- 

 sis is formed as may be to him proper to proceed upon, he throws 

 his whole weight forward and gets his hind feet gradually upon 

 the straw, &c. Being once confirmed on a solid footing, he will 

 next place the succeeding bundles before him, pressing them well 

 with his trunk, so as to form a causeway by which to reach the 

 firm ground. The instinct of the animal, and probably the ex- 

 perience of his. past danger, actuate him not to bear any weight 

 definitely, until by trial both with his trunk and the next foot that 

 is to be planted, he has completely satisfied himself of the firm- 

 ness of the ground he is to tread upon." (Swainson.) 



The general characters and habits of the two species E. Asi- 

 aticus and E. Africus, are the same, and yet there are some 

 points of difference. The Elephant of India has a head or skull 

 almost pyramidal in form ; that of the African species is more 

 rounded in contour. The tusks and ears of the latter are the 

 larger. So enormously large are the ears that they cover the 

 animal's shoulders, and are often " used by the natives as a sort 

 of truck, upon which to draw various loads." The teeth, too, 

 are different in numbers, the African species having eight mo- 

 lars, whereas the Asiatic has but four, and they are in the for- 

 mer also differently marked ; the Asiatic is the larger in its frame 

 and its color is a paler brown, and it has four nails on each hind 

 foot, while the African has only three ; it is considered essential 

 to the perfection of the Asiatic Elephant that it have eighteen 

 nails, five on each fore foot, and four on each hind one. The 



