170 MAMMALIA. 
which we designate collectively by the term Pachydermata, 
admit of subdivision into families. 
The first is that of the Pachydermata which have a pro- 
boscis and tusks. 
FAMILY I. 
PROBOSCIDIANA.(1) 
The Proboscidians have five toes to each foot, very com- 
plete in the skeleton, but so encrusted by the callous skin 
which surrounds the foot, that their only external appearance 
is in the nails attached to the edge of this species of hoof. 
They have no canini or incisors properly so called, but in 
their incisive bone are implanted two tusks, which project 
from the mouth, and frequently attain to an enormous size. 
The magnitude requisite for the alveoli of these tusks ren- 
ders the upper jaw so high, and so shortens the bones of the 
nose, that the nostrils in the skeleton are placed near the top 
of the face: but in the living animal they are continued out 
into a cylindrical trunk or proboscis, composed of several 
thousands of small muscles, variously interlaced, extremely 
flexible, endowed with the most exquisite sensibility, and ter- 
minated by an appendage resembling a finger. This probos- 
cis is to the Elephant what the hand is to the Monkey. 
With it he seizes every thing he wishes to convey to his 
mouth, and sucks up the water he is to drink, which, by the 
flexure of this admirable organ, is then poured into his throat, 
thus supplying the want of a long neck, whose weakness 
would have rendered it unable to support so large a head and 
such heavy tusks. Within the parietes of the cranium, how- 
ever, are several great cavities, which render the head lighter; 
the lower jaw has no incisors whatever; the intestines are 
very voluminous, the stomach simple, cxcum enormous, and 
(1) The Proboscidians have various affinities with certain Rodentia: 1, their 
great incisors; 2, their grinders frequently composed of parallel laminz ; 3, the 
‘form of several of their bones, &c. 
