THE ASIATIC ELEPHANT. 165 
zoological characters. Their teeth consist of two formi- 
dable tusks, which, occupying the place of the incisors 
of the upper jaw, project forwards in a nearly horizontal 
direction, generally with a slight curvature upwards ; 
and of one or occasionally two cheek teeth of consider- 
able magnitude on each side of each, jaw, formed of 
vertical layers of bony matter surrounded by enamel, 
and connected together by a third substance called cor- 
tical. ‘These latter are not, as in almost all the other 
Mammalia, renewed for one only time and at a certain 
age by the growth of others to supply their places from 
the cavity of the jaw beneath them; but, on the contrary, 
are pushed forwards by the advance of those which are 
destined to replace them from behind, and are renewed, 
according to the statement of Mr. Corse, no less than 
eight times at different periods of the animal’s existence. 
On each successive change the number of lamine of 
which they are composed is increased, the earliest not 
_ offering more than four, while the later ones frequently 
exceed twenty ; and it is in consequence of the new teeth 
generally making their appearance for some time prior 
to the total failure of their predecessors that their num- 
ber occasionally appears to be double its proper and 
more usual amount. The tusks on the contrary admit 
but of a single displacement and renewal; the first or 
milk pair seldom exceeding two inches in length, and 
falling out between the first and second year. The per- 
manent ones which succeed are much larger and more 
powerful in the adult male than in the female, and not 
unfrequently project as much as two feet. They are 
well known as furnishing one of the most beautiful and 
ornamental productions which the animal kingdom 
