different Species of Asiatic Elephants. 211 
Through this opening the elephant breathes, and by its means 
he sucks up water into his trunk ; between it and the roots of 
the tusks there is only a thin bony plate. 
The first or milk tusks of an elephant never grow to any 
size, (Tab. V. Fig. 1.) but are shed between the first and second 
year, when not two inches in length. (Fig. 2.) These, as well 
as the first grinders, are named by the natives dood-kau-daunt , 
which literally signifies milk teeth. The tusks which are shed 
have a considerable part of the root or fang absorbed before 
this happens ; as may be seen, by comparing one that has been 
shed, with another lodged in the socket of a young elephant, 
before it had cut the gum. (Fig. 1 and 2.) 
The time at which the tusks cut the gum, varies considerably. 
I have known a young one get his tusks when about five 
months old ; whereas, the tusks of another did not cut the gum 
till he was seven months old. Those tusks which are decidu- 
ous, are perfect, and without any hollow in the root, in a foetus 
which is come to its full time ; at this period, the socket of the 
permanent tusk begins to be formed, on the inner side of the 
deciduous tusk. (Fig. 1.) 
A young elephant shed one of his milk tusks on the 6th of 
November, 1790, when near thirteen months old, and the other 
on the 27th of December, when above fourteen months old: 
they were merely two black-coloured stumps, when shed; but, 
two months afterwards the permanent ones -cut the gum, and, 
on the 19th of April, 1791, they were an inch long, but black 
and ragged at the ends. When they became longer, and pro- 
jected beyond the lip, they soon were worn smooth, by the mo- 
tion and friction of the trunk. 
Another young elephant did not shed his milk tusks till he 
