OF :>IATURAL HISTORY. V7 



fenfes are equally acute as tliofe of any quadruped ; and, of 

 courfe, his fenfatior.s and Intelledl are equally aftive. Both 

 are exhibited in the gentleneis of his manners, his focial dif- 

 pofition, his afrection for the female, his anxious attention 

 to his offspring, and the expreffive modulation of his voice. 

 Befides, he enjoys advantages which are peculiar to him. He 

 is neither afraid of cold nor of heat. He lives indilFerently 

 on herbsj fiefli, or fifli. He inhabits, without inconvenience, 

 water, land, or ice. When affiftance Is necefTary, the feals 

 underftand and mutually affift one another. The young 

 diftinguifli their mother In the midil of a numerous troop. 

 They knov/ her voice ; and, when flie calls, they never fail 

 to obey. 



Before difmlffing this branch of the fubjecSi:, the elephant 

 mud not be paiTed over in iilence. His ftruclure is uncom- 

 mon, and fo are his talents. The elephant is the largeft and 

 moft magnificent animal that at prefent treads the earth. 

 Though he daily devours great quantities of herbage, leaves, 

 anabranches of trees, he has but one flomach, and does not 

 ruminate. This want, however, is fupplied by the magni- 

 tude and length of his inteftines, and particularly of the co- 

 lon, which is two or three feet in diameter by fifteen or 

 twenty in length. In proportion to the fize of the elephant, 

 his eyes are very fmall ; but they are lively, brilliant, and ca- 

 pable of a pathetic expreffion of fentiment. He turns them 

 flowly, and with mildnefs, towards his m after. When he 

 fpeaks, the animal regards him with an eye of friendfhip and 

 attention. Fie feems to refle^l with deliberation, and never 

 determines till he has examined, without pafiion or precipita- 

 tion, the orders which he Is defired to obey. The dog, 

 whofe eyes are very expreffive, Is too prompt and vivacious 

 to allow us to dlfdnguifh with eafe the fucceffive fhades of 

 his fenfations. But, as the elephant Is naturally grave and 

 moderate, we perceive in his eyes the order and fucceflion of 



K 



