THE ELEPHANT. 
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THE ELEPHANT. 
^elis animal is the most gigantic of existing quadrupeds. It 
is characterized essentially by having grinders composed of 
alternating plates of ivory, enamel and CEementum, and 
two tusks in the upper jaw, — it is also the only living Mammalia 
which has a proboscis, or trunk, longer than the head. There are 
two species of elephants — the Indian and African. The former 
differs in its conformation from the latter in its greater size, in the 
skull being higher in proportion to its length, and with a more con- 
cave forehead. The Indian has also comparatively smaller ears, 
the skin is of a paler brown color, and it has four nails on 
the hind feet, instead of three. The height of the Indian ele- 
phant, measured from the top of the shoulder has rarely been 
found to exceed ten feet six inches, — the ordinary height being 
from seven to nine feet. The tusks of the Indian elephant varies 
as to length ; their ends only are visible externally in the female. 
The characteristics of the African elephant may be inferred from 
those of the Indian species. It is usually described as having a 
