256 



HOOFED ANIMALS 



took it. It is possible that in this early period, lost to 

 history, there may have occurred some sudden climatic 

 revolution, a catastrophe instantly turning at least moderate 

 heat into intense cold, with consequent death for those 

 animals thus hurled into a terribly uncongenial environ- 

 ment. 



Although there are points of difference between them, and 

 the African and Asiatic species can be distinguished from 

 each other at a glance, in most respects they are so much alike 

 that their life-history may be taken at the same time. The 

 ears of an Elephant are at once a sure indication of its 

 species ; those of the African animal are of enormous size, 

 completely covering the shoulders, and their tips falling 

 below the neck, while the ears of the Indian species are 

 comparatively small. The African Elephant is darker in 

 colour, the middle of its back is flatter or hollower, and its 

 hind foot only possesses three nails compared to the four of 

 its Asiatic relative. 



The molar teeth are of enormous size, and so deeply sunk 

 in the jaw that they project but little above the gum. There 



are twenty -four of 

 these cheek teeth, six 

 on each side of both 

 upper and lower jaws. 

 They are never all in 

 use, however ; only 

 two of each half 

 dozen are ever above 

 the gums at any one 

 time. The teeth are 

 not solid, but consist 

 of a number of plates 

 set side by side. As 

 may be seen from the 



illustration, the plates of the African Elephant, when viewed 

 from above, present a distinctly diamond-shaped aspect, 

 while those of the Asiatic animal are narrow ovals. 



The average size of the African Elephant exceeds that of 

 the Asiatic, but in both species the males in particular attain 

 immense proportions. As a rule, Asiatic elephants do not 



INDIAN LOWER MOLAR. 



AFRICAN LOWER MOLAR. 



