526 



UNGULATES. 



a tooth is represented in the accompanying woodcut, and will be seen to be 

 composed of a number of low roof -like transverse ridges (in this case six), separated 

 by open valleys. When unworn, as on the right side of the figure, such ridges are 

 crowned by a number of small tubercles ; but the effect of wear, as shown in the 

 three ridges on the left side of the figure, is to perforate the enamel of which the 

 ridges are externally composed, and thus to reveal an elliptical surface of ivory 

 surrounded by a narrow border of enamel. In the figured tooth the valleys 

 between the ridges are completely open and devoid of cement, but in the teeth of 

 other species of nearly similar type they contain a certain amount of this 

 constituent. Now it only requires that the ridges in a tooth like that of Cliffs 

 elephant should be greatly increased in height, with a concomitant diminution of 



their basal width, which would 

 admit of a greater number being 

 borne in the same length of space, 

 and by the intervening valleys 

 being completely filled with 

 cement, to produce a tooth like 

 that of the Indian elephant. In 

 such a tooth, as shown in the 

 figures on pp. 525 and 528, the 

 ridges have become so tall as to 

 assume the appearance of thin 

 and nearly parallel plates, with 

 their investing enamel thrown 

 into a series of fine plications, 

 or puckers ; and the intervening 

 valleys have become so deepened and narrowed, that their contained cement 

 is also in the form of exceedingly thin plates. When worn, as in the figure on 

 p. 528, such a tooth presents on its surface a series of very narrow ellipses of 

 yellow ivory, surrounded by an elevated rim of the harder white enamel, marked 

 by its characteristic puckers ; while between the ellipses of enamel-bordered ivory 

 come the layers of cement. The succession of layers in such a tooth is therefore 

 arranged in the following order, viz. cement, enamel, ivory, and so on. The worn 

 crown forms a slightly convex or concave surface, marked by transverse ridges of 

 different degrees of hardness and height, and thus yields a masticating instrument 

 of the greatest power and efficiency. 



In their food, elephants are strictly herbivorous, subsisting 

 chiefly upon roots, twigs, leaves, and young shoots of trees, or grass 

 and other herbage ; such food being conveyed to the mouth by the aid of the flexible 

 trunk, which is admirably adapted for such a purpose, as it is for drawing up 

 water. There is, however, much popular misapprehension as to the other uses of 

 the elephant's trunk, in regard to which a few words are expedient. In addition 

 to its use as a purveyor of food and water to the mouth, the trunk is the organ of 

 touch and smell, and is altogether extremely delicate and sensitive. When any 

 danger is impending, elephants, except in some cases when charging an enemy, 

 invariably curl up the trunk out of harm's way. In regard to the alleged 



A LEFT UPPER MOLAR TOOTH OF CLIFT'S ELEPHANT {\ uat. size 



Habits. 



