ORDER OF PACHYDERMATA. 
The greater number of the animals of which this order is 
composed are remarkable for the thickness and hardness of their 
skins, and it is from this characteristic that they derive their 
name (ndyrig, thick, and Sspya, skin). In nearly all of them 
the toes are rendered motionless by a horny covering which 
surrounds them, called the hoof, which prevents them from seizing 
objects, and entirely blunts in this part of their bodies the sense 
of touch. Their digestive organs are not arranged for rumination, 
which distinguishes them from the order with which we are going 
to be occupied when we have done with the Pachydermata. 
Lastly, they never have on their foreheads either antlers or horns, 
which distinguishes them equally from the Puminants. It is in 
the order of Pachydermata that we find the largest of terrestrial 
animals. 
The Pachydermata are divided into three families : the 
Elephants or Proboscidea , the Ordinary Pachydermata , and the 
Soliped or Solidungulated Pachydermata * 
The Family of Elephants, or Proboscidea. — The Elephants, 
or Proboscidea (from the Latin word proboscis, trunk), are the 
largest of terrestrial animals, as the Whales are the largest 
of aquatic animals. If size and strength conferred the right 
of dominion, these two creatures would be able to divide between 
them the empire of the world. 
The proportions of the Elephant are clumsy, its body is thick 
and bulky, its gait heavy and awkward ; but its physiognomy 
is imposing and noble. These giants of creation have a head 
* Professor Owen has arranged the two latter into those with an odd number of 
toes, Perissodactyla , and those with an even number of toes, Artiodactyla , which 
latter seem to grade (by the intervention of extinct genera) into the Euminantia. 
The Solipeds form a division of Perissodactyla. — Ed. 
