342 



VERTEBKATE ANIMALS. 



are unable to apply the mouth directly to tlie ground, either for 

 feeding or for drinking, owing to the peculiar form of the incisor 

 teeth. The ujiper incisors of the Elephants, namely, are two in 

 number, and coristitute long tu;^ks, which grow throughout the 

 entire life of tlie animal, and wliich in old individuals may reach a 

 length of six or seven feet (fig. 247). There are no lower incisor teeth, 

 and canine teeth are wanting in both tlie ujiper and lower jaws. 

 Each jaw, however, usually exhibits a pair of exceedingly large 

 molar teeth (fig. 24"^), which are transversely ridged, and which are 



V — 



'V-:-: 



:y 



.^A- 







Fi-. ■:'4T.— Skull nf (lie IiijIiiiTi 



III LnAViT j;iu', witll ^.'liiuiil 

 fxtieiriil.y (if tliL' prubo.sci^ 



|ili:i!it {Eh]i]ins Tiidlnis). i Tiisk-like Ulipci- incisors ; 

 unliirs, liut witlmut iiicisiirs; ii Nnstrils, placed at tlie 



used in triturating the fuliage or herbage on which the animal feeds. 

 The entile structure of the Elephant is exceedingly massive, and the 

 akin is thick, and sparingly furnished with hair. The feet have five 

 toes each, but ,dl the toes ilo not carry hoofs, and the animal walks u]ion 

 a thick ]iad of hm-iiy .skin, which forms the lower end of each foot. 



The recent Eleph;ints are exclusively confined to the trojiical 

 regions of the (41<1 World, in the forests of which they live in herds. 

 Only two living species are known — the Asiatic Ele]ihant {Jilcjii/iiis 

 Indiriis) and the African Ele]ihant ( K. Afrifiiiinx\ There can be no 



