PACHYDERMATA. 



493 



and four nails on the hind feet. Its tusks are often 

 very short. 



The African Elephant (Elephas Africanus) has a 

 round head, a convex forehead, large flattened ears, 

 and but three nails on the hind feet. It is more 

 fierce than that of India ; its tusks are much longer, 

 and the female has them as long as the male. This 

 species is not tamed. 



The Ordinary Pachyderms are distinguished by 

 having no prehensile trunk, and feet provided with 

 three or four distinct toes. They are divided into 

 several genera, as in the following Table : 



CLASSIFICATION OF OKDINAEY PACHYDERMS. 



f Equal, and the 

 I foot having the 



Number 

 of their 



toes . 



appearance 

 being forked 



of 



Having on 

 the feet 



all 



Four equal toes . HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



I Two large middle 

 toes armed with 

 strong hoofs, 

 while the late- 

 ral toes are too 

 short to rest on 

 the ground . 



Unequal, and 

 the foot not 

 -forked 



Three toes on all ) 

 the feet . . . / 



HOG. 



RHINOCEROS. 



Four toes before ) 

 and three be- \ TAPIR. 

 hind ... ) 



The River Horse (Hippopotamus *) is found in most of the rivers 

 of Africa, but in greatest numbers south of the equator. These are 

 unwieldy looking animals, having their legs so short that the belly 

 almost touches the ground. The feet are curiously constructed, so as 

 to facilitate walking among the mud and reeds of the river bottoms, 

 and enable them to swim with ease. The hoof is divided into four 

 short, apparently clumsy, and unconnected toes, and they are able, 

 through this spread of foot, to walk rapidly through the marsh. 

 These animals consort together in flocks of from three to thirty. 

 They choose shallow parts of the river, where the depth of the water 

 allows them to keep their footing, and yet have their whole body 

 submerged. Here they remain all day, swimming off into the deeps, 

 and diving for their grassy food. They prefer parts of the river 



* tWos, hippos, a horse ; irora/j. 6s, potamos, a river. 



