282 ZOOLOGY, 



not intended for rumination. They are remarkable for the 

 thickness of their skins ; they are all more or less herbi- 

 vorous ; and their brains have convolutions, as in the carni- 

 vora. Some have the nose prolonged into a proboscis, and 

 are for this reason called proboscidians : the elephants (204) 

 have this feature. Others are recognised by the feet ter- 

 minating in a single toe, covered with a hoof; the horse, ass, 

 and zebra offer this character, and hence the name of solipeda. 

 Finally, the ordinary pachydermata have the feet terminated 

 by fingers or toes, varying from two to four ; the wild boar, 

 the tapir (Fig. 208), the rhinoceros (Fig. 198), the hippo- 

 potamus (Fig. 251), belong to this class or group. 



Fig. 248. The Zebra. 



The genus elephant (Fig. 204), the largest of all land 

 animals, is of a mild and gentle nature, and hence the ease 

 with which it may be domesticated. The great size of the 

 head and weight of the tusks necessitate a proboscis to enable 

 the animal to feed (page 243). By means of this singular 

 instrument the elephant uproots trees, unties the knots of a 

 cord, picks a lock, or uses a pen. Their sight is tolerably 

 good, their hearing fine, and their sense of smell acute. 

 Their caution is extreme, and their intelligence remarkable. 

 They remember injuries, and are not forgetful of favours. 

 Though of heavy gait, their speed is considerable, owing to 

 the length of their pace. Although the elephant is the most 

 powerful of quadrupeds, he is naturally neither cruel nor for- 



