39T 



tubes by a median cartilaginous septum. The tubes of the pro- 

 boscis communicate with these, and so with the nares and 

 throat. The lateral cartilages are very elastic, and lie so close 

 to the septum as partially, but not completely, to close this 

 communication ; but between the lower border of each carti- 

 lage and the proboscis are some strong muscular fibres, which 

 can compress the connecting membrane, and thereby perfectly 

 close the upper end of each proboscidean tube, and so prevent 

 the fluid which the animal draws into these from rising into 

 the nose and flowing through the nares into the throat. 



" The lining membrane of these cartilaginous nasal tubes is 

 somewhat of the same nature as that which lines the nares, 

 which is thick, soft, and vascular, and very superior in organi- 

 zation to that which lines the proboscidean canals. In the lat- 

 ter there are no olfactory nerves, and no sense of smell ; this 

 sense resides, as in other animals, in the true nose. 



" From the anatomical examination of the complex struc- 

 ture of this very curious appendix, we can understand the 

 powers it displays, and the purposes it effects in the economy 

 of the animal to which it appertains. Its muscularity and 

 its pliancy render it, as a weapon of offence and defence, pow- 

 erful and effective. With it he can strike down an animal, or 

 can raise it into the air and dash it to the earth ; or he can 

 bend it round its body or its neck, and crush it by powerful 

 compression. It can tear down large branches of trees, and 

 raise and propel great weights ; hence the great value of the 

 elephant in warfare, and in marshy countries, as a beast of 

 burden, for the transport of heavy guns and cumbrous bag- 

 gage. In such services his exertions are well-known, and have 

 often excited admiration and surprise ; the more so, as the 

 docility and intelhgence of the animal enable him to direct his 

 physical strength with the degree of energy and skill exactly 

 suited to accomplish the desired object. 



" For the prehension of food the proboscis is indispensable 

 to his existence ; by its means he plucks off branches and 

 leaves, blossoms and fruits, and tears away the herbage, gathers 



