MAMMALIA. 



49 



Elephas, Lin. Elephant. 



Molars with flat crowns composed of a certain number of 

 vertical laminse, each being formed of a bony substance in- 

 veloped with enamel and bound together by a cortical sub- 

 stance ; size gigantic ; skin very thick and wrinkled ; ears 

 very wide and flat; nose prolonged into a long movable 

 trunk. They consume about a hundred pounds of hay per 

 day, and from twelve to fifteen buckets of water. They will 

 carry a burthen of three thousand pounds. Two species, the 

 African and the Indian. 



FAMILY IL PACHYDERMATA ORDINARIA. 



The three kinds of teeth in the greatest number, in the 

 rest at least two sorts ; feet terminated by four toes at the 

 most, and at the least by two. Four remarkable genera. 



Genus I. Hippopotamus, Lin. 



Feet terminated by small hoofs ; six grinders throughout; 

 very strong canines, of which the inferior are crooked ; four 

 incisors in each jaw; body very massive and devoid of hair; 

 legs very short ; stomach trailing nearly to the earth ; tail 

 short ; head very large ; eyes and ears small ; diet herbivo- 

 rous ; habitation in the rivers of the middle and south of Af- 

 rica. Only one species. 



Genus II. Sus, Lin. Hog. 



The two middle toes large and with strong hoofs, the two 

 exterior ones much shorter and not touching the earth ; inci- 

 sors varying in number; canines curve upwards and late- 

 rally ; molars with tuberculous crowns ; muzzle truncated 

 and terminated by a snout. Body covered with bristles. 



Genus III. Rhinoceros, Lin. 



Three toes to each foot ; skin very thick and wrinkled ; 

 one or two horns of a fibrous nature placed upon the middle 

 line of the nose, of which the bones are exceedingly strong, 

 and united in an arch for their support; this weapon serves 

 them to fight with, and to disembowel their enemies the 

 tiger and lion. They inhabit only the equatorial zone of the 

 old continent. 



G 



