490 



THE REASON WHY IN NATURAL HISTORY. 



9. Why has the stomach of the camel a number of 

 distinct dags, like so many separate stomachs ? 



Because water is stored up in the separate 

 chambers of the stomach, apart from the solid 

 aliment, so that the animal can feed, without 

 consuming all its drink. It is thereby able to re- 

 tain water to satisfy its thirst while traveling 

 across hot deserts, where no water could be ob- 

 tained. 



10. Why have the Indian hogs large horns grow- 

 ing from their nostrils and turning back towards 

 their eyes t 



Because the horns serve as a defense to the 

 eyes while the animal forces its way through the 

 thick underwood in which it lives. 



1 1 . Why have calves and lambs, and the young of 

 horned cattle generally, no horns while they are 

 young ? 



Because the presence of horns would interfere 

 with the suckling of the young animal. When, 



wever, it is able to feed itself by browsing, 

 then the horns begin to grow. 



12. Why cannot flesh-eating animals live upon 

 vegetables t 



Because the gastric juice of a flesh-eating ani- 

 mal, being adapted to the duty which it has to 

 perform, will not dissolve vegetable matter. 



13. Why has the mole hard and flat feet, armtd 

 with sharp nails ? 



Because the animal is thereby enabled to bur- 

 row in the earth, in search for worms. Its feet 

 are so many shovels. 



14. Why is the mole's fur exceedingly glossy and 

 smooth 9 



Because its smoothness enables it to work 

 under ground without the soil sticking to its 

 coat, by which its progress would be impeded. 

 From soils of all kinds, the little worker emerges 

 shining and clean. 



15. Why has the elephant a short, unbending 

 neck t 



Because the elephant's head is so heavy, that 

 it could not have been supported at the end of a 

 long neck (or lever), without a provision of im- 

 mense muscular power. 



16. Why has the elephant a trunk t 



The trunk of an elephant serves as a substitute 

 for a neck, enabling the animal to crop the 



branches of trees, or to raise water from the 

 stream. 



According to Cuvier, the number of muscles in an ele- 

 phant's trunk amounts to forty thousand, all of which are 

 under the will, and it is to these that the proboscis of this 

 animal owes its flexibility. It can be protruded or con- 

 tracted at pleasure, raised up or turned to either side, coiled 

 round on itself or twined around any object. With this in- 

 strument the elephant collects the herbage on which he 

 feeds and puts it into his mouth ; with this he strips the trees 

 of their branches, or grasps his enemy and dashes him to 

 the ground. But this admirable organ is not only adapted 

 for seizing or holding substances of magnitude ; it is also 

 capable of plucking a single leaf, or of picking up a straw 

 from the floor. The orifices of the canals of the extremity 

 are encircled by a projecting margin, produced anteriorly 

 into a finger-like process endowed with a high degree of 

 sensibility and exceedingly flexible. It is at once a finger 

 for grasping and a feeler ; the division between the two 

 nasal orifices or their elevated sides serves as a point against 

 which to press ; and thus it can pick up or hold a small 

 coin, a bit of biscuit, or any trifling thing with the greatest 

 ease. 



17. Why do the hind-legs of elephants bend for- 

 ward ? 



Because the weight of the animal is so great, 

 that when it lay down it would rise with ereat 

 difficulty, if its legs bent outward, as do the leg! 

 of other animals. Being bent under the body, 

 they have a greater power of pushing directly 

 upward, when the powerful muscles of the thighs 

 straighten them. 



1 8. Why have bats hooked claws in their wings f 



Because bats are almost destitute of legs and 

 feet ; at least those organs are included in their 

 wings. If they alight upon the ground, they 

 have great difficulty in again taking to the wing, 

 as they cannot run or spring to bring their wings 

 in action upon the air. At the angle of each 

 wing there is placed, therefore, a bony hook, by 

 which the bat attaches itself to the sides of rocks, 

 caves, and buildings, laying hold of crevices, 

 joinings, chinks, etc. ; and when it takes its flight, 

 it unhooks itself, and its wings are at once free 

 to strike the air. 



19. Why does the bat fly by night t 



Because it lives chiefly upon moths, which are 

 night-flying insects. 



20. Why does the bat sleep during the winter t 

 Because, as the winter approaches, the moths 



and flying insects upon which it feeds, disappear. 

 If, therefore, it did not sleep through the winter, 

 it must have starved. 



