THE ELEPHANT. 



that although the grinders found in Siberia much referable thofe of the 

 Elephant, yet the curvature of the tufks is different ; notwithftanding which, 

 Mr. Pennant alfents to the opinion of thofe who think they once belonged to 

 the Elephant. As to what are found in the banks of the Ohio, they all differ 

 from thofe of the Elephant in many particulars, which have been noticed by 

 the late Dr. Hunter, in an ingenious effay, publifhed in the Philofophical 

 Tranfa&ions, Vol. lviii. 34, to which we refer the more curious reader. 

 Thefe foflil bones are alfo found in Peru and the Brazils. There is certainly 

 abundance of room for fuch a race of animals in the immenfe forelts and 

 wilds, which are hitherto only known by their name and lituation ; but, till 

 one of them has been feen alive, the matter mull remain in obfcurity. If no 

 fuch animal ever exifted (a), we may fairly conclude, that the Elephant 

 formerly grew to a ftature much exceeding that of the prefent race, as the 

 bones, juft mentioned, are frequently much larger than any found in the 

 largerl Elephant at this time. 



There are certain accounts that the Elephant attains the height of twelve 

 feet, and fome are faid to have been found even three feet higher (b). They 

 are much larger in Africa than in the Eafl Indies. It would be difficult to 

 imagine any thing clumfier than the appearance of this animal. The head 

 is enormoufly large, and joined to the body by a neck fo thick and unwieldy, 

 that although it has as many joints in the bone as other quadrupeds, it would 

 not be poffible for it to reach the vegetables on which it feeds, were it not 

 for the afMance of the probofcis, or trunk, with which it is furnifhed at the 

 end of its nofe. This wonderful organ is cartilaginous, hollow like a tube, 

 compofed of many rings, extremely flexible, and withal fo ftrong, that it is 

 capable of breaking off large branches of trees, to force its way through the 

 thick woods ; with it the Elephant lifts heavy burdens, either to carry them, 

 or to place them on its back ; it is through this canal that the animal breathes 



(a) Mr. Pennant very properly obferves, that " it is more than probable that this animal yet exifts in fome 

 of thofe remote parts of the vail new continent, impenetrated yet by Europeans. Providence maintains and 

 continues every created fpecies; and we have as much affurancej that no race of animals will .any more ceafe, 

 while the earth remaineth, than seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night r 



(e) Pennant. 



