278 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



With tlie exception of tlie Iiorsc and hog, tlie animals comprised in tliis 

 division can scarcely compare with the riiminantia in the utilitarian point of 

 view ; although the elephant in India is made to do good service in the trans- 

 portation of heavy baggage, and other accompaniments of armies, and it is 

 thought that the American tapir, possessing a mild and tractable disposition, 

 might be tloniesticated and employed as a beast of burden. 



Genus Ei.EniAS. As the elephant is so fre(piently exhibited in this 

 country, there are none who are not familiar with its general appearance 

 and form. The numerous menageries which have become so popular duriu"- 

 these last years, are, to a limited extent, good schools of natural history, 

 where all classes of our citizens are cheaply furnished with the privilege of 

 inspecting personally many rare and interesting animals, and this gigantic 

 denizen of the trojiical forests among the rest. We shall refrain, therefore, 

 from any descriptive remarks, and merely I'efer the I'eadcr to our figure ou 

 Plate xVlII. 



Xotwitlistnnding the prodigious size and strength of these creatures, they 

 ap])car to be of a harmless and inoifensivc character, unless they are at- 

 tacked by some foe, such as the lion, tiger, or man. They are of a sociable 

 nature, form societies or troops, under a patriarchid form of government, and 

 peacei'ully accomplish the piu'pose of their existence, in the gorgeous shades 

 and retreats which the Oriental forests so liberally supply. The troop is 

 governed l)y a hoary male elephant, who directs all the movements of the 

 family, leading it, as the heat of the day increases, to a deeper shade, watered 

 bv coolinix streams, and au'ain, morning and eveninEC, o-uidinET it to tiic 

 forest skirts to feed on the tender foliage which Nature furnishes in al)iin- 

 dance for its sustenance. These animals have an excessive fondness for sweet 

 suiistanccs, which renders them sometimes veiy destructive to sugar planta- 

 tions. Although they are timid, and easily alarmed, .and by no means 

 aggressive, yet when attacked and wounded, 'they turn U[ion their assail- 

 ant with the utmost fury, and unless he has previously prepared a way of 

 escape, seldom fail in wreaking their vengeance, by mangling and tram[)ling 

 the body long after life has become extinct." 



There are two sjiecies, one belonging to Asia, and the other to Africa. 



EJeplias ItHllcus. For a general description and appearance, we again 

 refer the reader to the plate already indicated. The ears of this species arc 

 much smaller than those of the Afri<-an species, liut it far surjiasses the 

 latter in size. Although very awkward and unwieldy in a|)pearance, it is 

 capable of quite rapid progression, often outstripping the speed of the swiftest 

 horse. Tiic eyes are colnparati^■ely small ; the feet have five toes ; the soles 

 are <li\ided outwardly into nearly circuhif deep pits, in each of which is con- 

 tained a number of small, irregular polygons, which make the surface appear 



