GREAT AND SMALL GAME OE AERICA 



THE ELEPHANT {Elephas afrkanus) 



Order Ungulata. Sub-Order Proboscidea 

 Family Elephantid^;. Genus Elephas 



The African and Indian elephants are the sole existing representatives 

 not only of the genus and family to which they belong, but likewise of the 

 sub-order Proboscidea, which forms a peculiar section of the Ungulata, or 

 Hoofed Mammals. In addition to their huge bodily size and clumsy 

 build, elephants are characterised by the trunk, or proboscis in which 

 the muzzle is produced, the presence of tusks in the upper jaw, and the 

 peculiar nature of the cheek-teeth. These latter are six in number in each 

 side of both the upper and lower jaw, but only one, or portions of two are 

 in use at any one time, the series increasing in size from front to back, 

 and the larger hind ones coming up into use as the smaller front ones are 

 worn away, and taking their place. Each tooth consists of a number of 

 vertical plates united together ; the number of such plates being least in 

 the first and greatest in the last tooth of the series. The massive cushion- 

 like feet have the position of the toes indicated by broad flat nails, of which 

 there may be either three or four in the hind-limb, and usually five in the 

 fore-limb. The bones of the limbs are placed almost vertically above one 

 another, as in the human leg, in consequence of which the upper portion 

 of each limb is free from the body, instead of being partially enclosed in 

 the same, as in the great majority of Hoofed Mammals. There are, of 



