THE ELKPIIANT. 



CHAPTER X. 



OF THE ELEPHANT. 



HAVING gone through the description of those 

 quadrupeds that, by resembling each other in 

 some striking particular, admit of being grouped 

 together, and considered under one point of view, 

 we now come to those insulated sorts, that bear 

 no similitude with the rest, and that, to be dis- 

 tinctly described, must be separately considered. 

 The foremost of these, and in every respect 

 the noblest quadruped in nature, is the Elephant, 

 not less remarkable for its size than its docility 

 and understanding.* All historians concur in 

 giving it the character of the most sagacious ani- 

 mal next to man ; and yet, were we to take our 

 idea of its capacity from its outward appearance, 

 we should be led to conceive very meanly of its 

 abilities. The elephant, at first view, presents 

 the spectator with an enormous mass of flesh, 

 that seems scarcely animated. Its huge body, 

 covered with a callous hide, without hair; its 

 large misshapen legs, that seem scarcely formed 

 for motion ; its little eyes, large ears, and long 

 trunk, all give it an air of extreme stupidity. 

 But our prejudices will soon subside when we 

 come to examine its history ; they will even serve 



[* This animal has no fore-teeth in cither jaw ; very long tusks in the 

 upper jaw; the proboscis, or trunk, is long, and capable of laying hold of 

 any substance, however minute ; and the body is nearly naked. ] 



