THE ELEPHANT, 65 



and, in this cafe, they correfpond not exaclly 

 with the extremities of the toes. Befides, this 

 variety, which has only been remarked in young 

 elephants brought to Europe, ieerns to be pure- 

 ly accidental, and probably depends on the man- 

 ner the animal has been treated during the fir ft 

 years of its growth. The fole of the foot is co- 

 vered with a kind of leather as hard as horn, and 

 proje&s outward all around. The nails confift 

 of the fame fubftance. . 



The ears of the elephant are very Jong, move- 

 able at pleafure? and ierve the animal as a fan. 

 The tail is not longer than the ears, being gene- 

 rally from two and a half to three feet in length, 

 It is thin, pointed, and garnilhed at the extremi- 

 ty with a tuft of thick hairs, or rather threads 

 of a black, gloiTy,folid, horny fubftance. This hair 

 or horn is as thick and ftrong as iron- wire, and 1 

 roan cannot break it by pulling with his hands* 

 though it be flexible and elailic. In fine, this 

 tuft of hair is greatly efteemed as an ornament 

 by the Negro women, who arc probably attach- 

 ed to it by fome fuperftition *. An elephant's 

 Vol. VI. E tail 



only three. The fmall Indian elephant Formerly mentioned 

 had lour nails both on che fore and hind feet. But there are 

 uniformly rive toes on each foot ; Mem. pour Jsrvir a I'hijl: dei 

 unimaupti part. 3. />. 103. 



* Merolla remarks, that many of the Pagans in d 

 countries, and particularly the Saggas, have a devout regard 

 for the elephant's tail. When any of their chiefs the, they 

 preferve, in honour of him, one of thefe tails, to which they 

 pay a kind of religious worlhip, founded on the notion ot i 



po" 



