NATURAL HISTORY. 



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THE ELEPHANT*. 



IF the human fpecles be excepted, the Ele- 

 phant is the mod refpedable animal in the 

 world. In fize he furpafles all other terreftrial 

 creatures j and, by his intelligence, he makes as 

 Vol. VI. A ' near 



* The Elephant has a long cartilaginous trunk, formed of 

 multitudes of rings, pliant in all directions, and terminated 

 with a fmall moveable hook. The noftrils are at the end of 

 the trunk, which is ufed, like a hand, to convey any thing in- 

 to the mouth. This animal has no cutting teeth, but four 

 large flat grinders in each jaw, and in the upper, two vaft 

 tufks, pointing forwards, and bending a little upwards ; the 

 largeft of them imported into Britain are feven feet long, and 

 weigh 152 pounds each. The eyes are fmall, and the ears 

 long, broad and pendulous. The back is much arched. The 

 legs are thick, and very clumfy and fhapelefs. The feet are 

 undivided; but their margins are terminated by five round 

 hoofs. The tail is like that of a hog. The colour of the fcia 

 is dufky, with a few fcattered hairs on it; Pennanfs Synopf. 



In Greek, EAe0« ? ; in Latin, EUphantus, Barrus ; in Spaniih, 

 Elephante; in German, Helphant ; in the Eaft, Elf I. Phil, or 

 Ftl, »s a Chaldean word which fignifies ivory, and Mun'fler 

 nfcs it to denote the Elephant. In the Eaft Indies the elephant 



was 



