398 



all into a mass, and, as with a hand, places it within his mouth. 

 With it he sucks up a large draught of fluid, closes the com- 

 munication with the nose, and then turns its spout-like extre- 

 mity into the mouth, the anterior part of the latter being so 

 shaped as accurately to receive the contents. 



" As the prehensile organs for food in other animals possess 

 the sense of touch, whether they be lips or anterior extremi- 

 ties, so the tapering end of this organ enjoys exquisite sensi- 

 bility and delicate motor power. By its thumb-like appendix 

 he can pick up the smallest substance from the ground, hold 

 it, and turn it in every direction, to examine it with accuracy 

 before he commits it to his mouth. He can also execute 

 (especially in his captive state, when taught and encouraged 

 by kindness) a variety of delicate manipulations with astonish- 

 ing dexterity. 



" This organ also enables him to remain in deep water, his 

 whole body immersed and concealed from view, except the 

 point of the proboscis, which appears just over the surface, 

 and through which respiration is conducted, occasionally draw- 

 ing in a little fluid, and then ejecting it with force, not unlike 

 the "jet d'eau" from the blow-hole on the head of the ceta- 

 cea. By it also, when on land, he can dash water, sand, and 

 mud all over his body, so as to cool and refresh the surface, 

 . and remove any source of irritation. Finally, by this instru- 

 ment he can modify his voice, and increase its tone, so as to 

 cause it to be heard at a distance of one or two miles, and, 

 according to some, still more. Through it he can send forth 

 trumpet sounds, loud, harsh, and discordant, but varying ac- 

 cording as they are indicative of social or sexual feeling, or of 

 terror, anger, or satisfaction."* 



* Since the above went to press I have found, in the library of Trinity Col- 

 lege, A. Moulin's pamphlet on the dissection of an elephant, published in the 

 form of a letter to Sir William Petty, Lond. 1682. He has correctly noticed 

 the absence of pleurae or pulmonary serous membranes. The brain, in his 

 specimen, which was older and larger than mine, weighed ten pounds (I pre- 

 sume avoirdupois), or between thirteen and fourteen pounds Troy weight. 



