PACHYDERMATA. 169 



Elephas,* the Elephant. 



The most striking peculiarity in the form of this 

 vast animal, is the elongation of the muzzle into a tu- 

 bular flexible trunk, of most elaborate construction, 

 endowed with exquisite sensibility, uniting the ut- 

 most delicacy of touch with great strength and power. 

 At the extremity there is a little appendage serving 

 the purpose of a finger, and giving " to the Elephant 

 almost as much skill as the perfect state of his hand 

 confers on the Monkey." The enormous solid tusks, 

 and the size of the skull necessary to receive them, 

 give a weight to the head, which could scarcely be 

 supported by any muscles if the neck were long; 

 it is therefore very short, and as the mouth cannot 

 be brought to the ground, to graze, the trunk is 

 given to compensate the deficiency. With this ad- 

 mirable organ, the animal collects grass and other 

 food with great dexterity, and even pumps up water 

 into its canaly which is then discharged into the 

 mouth. The tusks occupy the place of the incisors 

 in the upper jaw, proceeding downwards, and then 

 curving upwards to a great length. They average 

 about seventy pounds the pair, but a single tusk is 

 said to have been sold at Amsterdam, weighing three 

 hundred and fifty pounds. The feet have five toes, but 

 they are enveloped in a callous leathery skin, and dis- 

 tinguishable, externally, only by the hoofs which en- 

 close the tips of the toes. The number of these is one 

 distinguishing mark of the two species, the African 



* Its Greek name. 

 VOL. I. I 



