326 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



other, not vertically, in the manner that the adult- 

 teeth succeed the milk-teeth, but from behind to- 

 ward the front, so that as fast as one tooth becomes 

 worn, it is at the same time pushed forward by its 

 successor from behind ; hence the Elephant has 

 sometimes one and sometimes two cheek-teeth on 

 each side, four, or eight altogether, according to 

 circumstances. The first of these teeth have but 

 few laminae, and their successors alaways have 

 more. It is said that some Elephants will in this 

 manner change their teeth as many as eight times. 

 They change their tusks only once. 



The existing Elephants, covered with a rough 

 skin, nearly destitute of hair, inhabit only the 

 torrid zone of the old continent : only two species 

 are hitherto known. 



The Indian Elephant (Elephas Indicus, Cuv.) Buff. xi. 1. 

 and Supp. in. 54. 



Has an oblong head ; concave forehead, with the 

 tops of the cheek-teeth presenting undulating- 

 transverse ridges, which are the separations of 

 the laminae which compose them, worn by tri- 

 turation. This species has the ears smaller than 

 the other, and has four nails on the hind feet. 

 It inhabits from the Indies to the eastern sea, 

 and in the large islands to the south of India. 

 They have been used from time immemorial as 

 beasts of draught and of burthen; but they have 

 never hitherto been propagated in a domestic 

 state, although the assertion of their pretended 



