304 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



of which only a few species are known. They are all gregarious 

 little animals, living in holes of the rocks, and capable of do- 

 mestication. One species (Byrax Capensis) occurs commonly 

 in South Africa, and is known to the Dutch colonists as the 

 " Badger." Another species (Hyrax Syriacus) occurs in the 

 rocky parts of Arabia and Palestine, and is believed to be the 

 " cony " of Scripture. They present many ciu-ious points of 

 resemblance to the gigantic Rhinoceros, and are often placed 

 in the same order, the similarity being especially great as re- 

 gards the form of the molar teeth. The incisor teeth of the 

 upper jaw are long and curved, with sharp cutting edges, and 

 they grow from a permanent pulp, thus resembling the teeth 

 of the genuine Rodents (such as the Rabbit or Beaver). 



Order VIII. Pboboscidea {Lat. proboscis, ^g snout). — 

 This order is only represented at the present day by the Ele- 

 phant, of which there are only two species living. One of 

 these is the African Elephant, which is distingmshed by its 

 convex forehead and great flapping ears ; the other is the In- 

 dian Elephant, which has a concave forehead and small ears. 

 The Proboscidea are characterized by having the nose pro- 

 longed into a cylindrical trunk or proboscis, at the extremity 

 of which the nostrils are placed (Fig. 152, n). The trunk is 

 extremely flexible and highly sensitive, and terminates in a 

 finger-like prehensile lobe. There are no canine teeth ; the 

 molars are few in number, large, and transversely ridged, or 

 furnished with tubercles. In the living forms there are no 

 lower incisors, but the upper incisors are two in number, grow 

 from a permanent pulp, and constitute enormous tusks (Fig. 

 153, i). In some of the extinct forms there are two tusk-like 

 lower incisors, and sometimes both the lower and upper in- 

 cisors are developed into tusks. The feet are furnished with 

 five toes each, but these are only partially indicated externally 

 by the divisions of the hoo£ The animal walks upon thick 

 pads of integument, which constitute the soles of the feet. 

 The Indian Elephant inhabits India and the Indian Archi- 

 pelago and has five hoofs on the fore-feet, but only four on the 

 hind-feet. Like the Ceylon Elephant, which is a mere variety, 

 the males alone possess well-developed tusks. The African 

 Elephant has four hoofs on the fore-feet, and only three on 

 the hind feet, while it is smaller and darker in color than the 

 Indian species. Both sexes also possess tusks, though those 

 of the males are largest. All the Elephants feed upon vege- 

 table matter. 



