THE ANATOMY OF THE INDIAN ELEPHANT. 



Muscles of the Pkoboscis. 



The proboscis of the elephant has been fully and accurately 

 described by Cuvier, but the arrangement of its muscles is in- 

 cluded in the present account for the sake of completeness. 

 This organ in the elephant differs from the somewhat similar 

 snout of certain Insectivora {e.g., Macroscelides) ia its homologies 

 and internal structure. The insectivorous snout derives its 

 form and extent from the great development of the nasal carti- 

 lage ; whereas the proboscis of the elephant consists wholly of 

 muscular and membranous tissue, the nasal cartilages simply 

 serving as valves to the entrance of the bony nares. The muscles 

 consist of a superficial set, the fibres of which are more or less 

 longitudinal in direction, and a deep set, which are radiate and 

 transverse. The longitudinal muscles are further divisible into 

 anterior, lateral, and posterior. 



Levatores prohoscidis, or anterior longitudinal, arise from the 

 frontal bone, along a semicircular line arching upwards above 

 the nasal bones and between the orbits. The muscles of the 

 two sides blend, and their fasciculi, running in nearly straight 

 lines, extend the entire length of the proboscis along its anterior 

 surface, and are continued into the finger-like process at its 

 extremity. 



C. and L.— 274-5 ; 276-7 ; 278, fig. 1 ; 279, figs. 1, 2, (3) ; 

 280 (a). 



Depressores proboscidis, or posterior longitudinal, arise from the 

 anterior surface and lower border of the premaxillse, and form 

 two layers of oblique fasciculi along the posterior surface of the 

 proboscis. The fibres of the superficial set are directed down- 

 wards and outwards from the middle line ; they do not reach the 

 extremity of the trunk, but disappear by curving over the sides 

 a little above the end of the organ. The fibres of the deeper set 

 •take the reverse direction, and are attached to a distinct ten- 

 dinous raphe along the posterior median line. 



C. and L.— 274-5 ; 276-7 ; 278, fig. 2 ; 279, fig. 2 (4?) ; 280 (c). 



The lateral longitudinal muscles consist of two portions on 

 each side ; one is derived from orbicularis oris, the other springs 

 from the anterior margin of the orbit. They are inserted by a 



c 



