and functions of the nerves. 419 
was left so entire as in the graminivorous animals. This 
leads us to reflect on the different natures of the two classes. 
The beast of prey procures his food under the influence of a 
blood-thirsty appetite, and suffers a universal excitement ; he 
holds and rends his prey : and especially in the larger animals 
of this class, the action of feeding is accompanied with horrific 
sounds of enjoyment : in short, with a highly excited state of 
the organs of respiration. In the graminivorous animals, the 
act of feeding is a simple and unempassioned exercise of the 
organs of mastication. 
The author hopes that these experiments will be deemed 
conclusive ; yet it is a pleasanter mode of investigation to have 
recourse to comparative anatomy. There is only one addi- 
tional instance of this kind that he will offer. It has been 
already stated that when a feeler, or antenna, is examined, 
if it be simply for sensation, one nerve only runs along it. It 
was suggested to him, that if his theory were true, the trunk 
of the elephant being hollow, and connected with respiration, 
it should have two nerves ; whereas in the observations of 
Cuvier it was stated to have only one. An opportunity of 
ascertaining the truth of this was very liberally granted by 
Mr. Herbert Mayo, who had lately a young elephant for 
dissection. The two nerves were readily found, both of great 
size ; the one a continuation of the superior maxillary branch 
of the fifth, the other a continuation of the respiratory, or 
seventh. 
Having brought this investigation to a conclusion, some 
perhaps, fatigued by its details, may ask to what does this 
discussion lead ? 
Were we to enquire no farther, and to rest content with 
mdcccxxi. 3 H 
