I'S VEETEBRATES. 



used throughout the whole civilized world. In each jaw it has 

 four grinders of surprising size. Considering the magnitude of 

 the animal, its eyes are small j its ears are large, hanging down 

 upon the side of its head. As the mouth cannot reach the ground 

 either for eating ur drinking, Providence has furnished it with a 

 most curious and useful member, called a proboscis. This is a 

 cylindrical trunk, which is fleshy, movable in every direction, and 

 which it can stretch out from one to five feet. By this it fetches 

 food and water to its mouth, and is enabled to lift up from the 

 ground the smallest object it can see. It is also employed as a 

 means of defence, and also of severely punishing whatever it con- 

 siders as an enemy. The female resembles the human species in 

 this respect, it has two mamvise on its breast, by which it suckles 

 its young. The skin of the Elephant is wrinkled, hairless, and of 

 a mouse-like color. The tail is of a moderate length, the feet of 

 course thick and strong, having eaeh five hoofs. It is truly re- 

 markable for its longevity, strength, sagacity, affeotiop, fidelity, 

 docility, and even modesty. It is considered as approaching near- 

 est man, in apparent reason, prudence, skill, and forethpught. It 

 has been often educated for the most useful purposes, for carrying 

 commodities with its trunk from one place to another, and even in 

 lading and unlading ships. It is very gentle when treated with 

 kindness, but when provoked it is most formidable : it tears with 

 its , teeth, tosses with its trunk ; trees of considerable size it' will 

 overset, and push down houses and walls. With one blow of its 

 trunk it can strike a horse dead. Anciently, elephants were used 

 in war, and towers were fixed upon their backs, capable of con- 

 taining thirty warriors. They are still used in eastern nations on 

 occasions of state pomp and magnificence, gorgeously caparisoned, 

 and having for their riders exalted and royal personages, arrayed 

 in all the pride of Asiatic luxury. 



The African Elephant is widely diffused through the vast 

 forests, and is met with in herds of various numbers. The male 

 is very much larger than the female; consequently, much more 

 difficult to kill, He is provided with two enormous tusks. These 

 aio long, tapering, and beautifully arched : their length averages 



