E L E 
£ L E 
Bnt as to the fcnie of feeling, the Elephaht ex- 
-ceeds the whole brute creation, and perhaps even 
man himfelf. The organ of this fenfe lies folely 
in^the trunk, an inftruraent peculiar to this ani- 
mal, and which anfwers all the purpofes of a hand : 
this trunk, properly fpeaking, is only the fnout ex- 
tended to an unufual length, hollow like a pipe, 
and terminating in tv.o openings or nofcHls like 
thofe of the liog. The trunk of an Elephant of 
the height of fourteen feet, is about eight feet in 
length, and five and a half in circumference at the 
mouth, where it is thickeft; it is hollow through- 
out it's whole length, but has a partition which 
runs from one end to the other; fo that, thougli it 
appears externally like a fingle pipe, it is internally 
divided into two. This flelhy tube is compofed 
of nerves and mufcles, covered with a fl<in of a 
blackifli colour, like that of the reft of the body; 
it is capable either of extenfion or contraftion, of 
being bent or ftraightened ; embracing any fub- 
fbance to which it is applied with the utmoft pli- 
ancy ; and yet fo very ftrong, that nothing can be 
torn from it's gripe. To aid the force of this 
grafp, there are feveral little eminences, like the 
feet of caterpillars, on the under-fidcof this inftru- 
ment, which unqucftionably contribute to the len- 
fibility of the touch, as well as the firmnefs of the 
hold. Through this trunk the animal breathes, 
drinks, and finells, as by means of a tube; and, at it's 
very extremity, exaftly above the noftrils, there is an 
extenfion of the fl<in, about five inches long, which 
is fliaped like a finger, and in fa6l anfwers all the 
purpofes of that member ; for, together with the 
reft of the extremity of the trunk, it is capable of 
affuming different forms at pleafure, anci confe- 
quently of being adapted to the minuteft objefts. 
By the help of this, the Elephant is enabled to pick 
up even a pin from the ground, to untie the knots 
of a rope, unlock a door, and write with a pen. 
' I have feen,'- fays JEWan, ' an Elephant writing 
Roman charafters on a board, in a very orderly 
manner, his keeper only fhewing him the figure of 
each letter., While thus employed, the eyes might 
be obferved ftudioufty caft down on the writing, 
and exhibiting an appearance of great Ikill and eru- 
dition.' It fometimes, indeed, happens, that the 
objeft proves too large for the grafp of the trunk ; 
in which cafe, the Elephant makes ufe of another 
expedient as admirable as the former: it applies the 
extremity of it to the furface of tlie obje6l; and 
fucking up it's breath, lifts and fuftains whatever 
weight the air is capable of keeping fufpended. 
Thus this inftrument is conducive to almoft every 
purpofe of the creature's life ; it proves an organ 
of finclling, touching, and fu(5lion; and not only 
provides for the neceffities and conf eniencies of 
the animal, but alfo for it's ornament and defence. 
But though the Elephant derives fo many ad- 
vantages from it's trunk, with refpe6l to the reft of 
it's conformation it is helpiefs and unwieldy: it's 
neck is fo fliort, and it's head turned with fuch dif- 
ficulty, that the animial muft wheel round it's 
v^hole body before it can difcover an enemy from 
behind. The hunters, who attack it from that 
quarter, generally efcape the effects of it's indigna- 
tion by this eafy manoeuvre, and gain time fuffi- 
cient to renew their affaults while it is employed in 
turning it's ponderous carcafe in order to face 
them. It's legs, indeed, are not lb inflexible as 
it's neck, though they are comparatively ftiff, and 
v/ill not bend without evident exertions: thofc be- 
iore feem longer than the hinder onesj but only to 
appearance, for, on bei^ng meafured, they are founct 
equal, if not ftiorter; their joints are placed nearly 
in the middle, like the knees of the human fpecies ; 
and the great bulk which they are deftined by na- 
ture to fupport makes their dcxure very ckuray; 
While young, the Elephant bends it's legs, both' 
to lie down and to rife: but, when it eithei" grows 
old or infirm, this aft is not performed without hu- 
man affiftanc'e ; and confeqtiently it becomes fo very 
inconvenient to the animal, that it rather chufes to 
repofe ftanding. The feet v/hich fupport thefe maffy 
columns form a bafe fcarcely broader than the legs 
they fuftain; they are divided into five toes, which 
are fituated beneath the ikin, fo that none of them 
appear to the eye, a kind of protuberances only 
being obfervable, which vary in number from three 
to five : but though the apparent toes vary, the in- 
ternal ones are conftantly the fume; and the foal of 
the foot is furniflied with a corneous Ikin, which 
complcatly invefts the whole under-part of the 
foot. 
In addition to the incumbrances of the Ele- 
phant, may be fubjoined it's two enormous tulks, 
which being ufelels for the bufinefs of maftica- 
tion, ferve only as weapons of defence : thefe, as 
the animal advances in years, become fo heavy, 
that it is fometimes obliged to have holes dug in 
the walls of it's ftall, for the purpofe of refting 
them, as well as cafing itlii'lf of tlie fatigue of their 
fupport. It is well known to what an am.azing 
fize thefe tuf!<:s generally grow, many of them be- 
ing above fix feet in length. Some authors have 
fu]:)pofed, that thefe are rather the horns than the 
teeth of this animal ; but, bcfides their greater fim.i- 
litude to bone than horn, diey have been indifput- 
ably proved to grow from the upper jaw, and not 
from the fi-ontal bones, as fome have roundly af- 
fcrted. It has been alfo affirmed, that thefe tufivs 
are fhed in the fame manner as ftags drop their 
horns; but, from their folid confiftence, as well as 
accidental defe£ls, wliich often appear to be the 
refult of a flow decay, it is extremely probable that 
they are as fixed and permanent as the teeth of 
other animals. Certain, however, it is, that this 
creature never drops them in a ftate of fervitude, 
but retains them till they become cumbrous and in- 
convenient to a very high degree. 
As to other parts of it's conformation, this ani- 
mal is equally Angular. The lips and tongues of 
other creatures ferve to imbibe their drink or their 
food ; but, with refpecl to the Elephant, they are 
totally unferviceable for thofe purpofes ; and it not 
only gathers it's aliment with it's trunk, but alfo 
fupplies itfelf with water by the lame means. When 
it eats hay in a domeftic ftate, it lays hold of a 
fmall vvifp with it's trunk, turns and fhapes it v/ith 
that inftrument for fome time, then guides it to 
it's mouth, and afterwards chews it with it's grind- 
ing-teeth, which are exceedingly large. When 
this quantity is ftifficiently mafticated, it is fvN'al- 
lowed, and never ruminated again, as is the cafe 
with cows or fhecp, the ftomach and inteftines of 
the Elephant bearing a ftronger refemiblance to 
thofe of the horfe. It's manner of drinkins; is 
equally extraordinary: it dips the end of it's trunk 
into the water, and thereby fucks up as much at a 
time as fills that great fleftiy tube compleatly; then 
raifing it's head, and turning the point into it's 
mouth, it drives it 'below the aperture of the v.'ind- 
pipe. The trunk being in this pofition, and ftill 
full of water, the creature blows ftrongly into it 
at die other end, whereby that fluid is forced into 
the 
