PACHYDERMES. 
97 
an organ of delicate prehension, of touch, and of 
smell, — a convenient apparatus for some of the 
more unwield}', where their short neck would not 
enable them to stretch far above them, or even 
very easily to reach the ground. In these instances 
it serves the place of the flexible upper lip of 
some of the Ruminants, and the lengthened tongue 
of the Cameleopard. We find this structure most 
developed in the Elephant, whose elongated 
nostrils are familiarly known under the name of 
trunk or proboscis, and of whose structure we 
have entered more into detail in describing the 
Indian species. It will suffice to say here, that it 
is an organ of the utmost delicacy, in displaying 
the senses of smelling and touch, and at the same 
time capable of the most prodigious strength, and 
is constantly used by the animal in pulling within 
its reach the branches and foliage on which it 
feeds. The creatures which have it in the next 
greatest proportion elongated, are the Tapirs, in 
which the nostrils also are contained in a moveable 
snout, scarcely however used for prehension, but 
possessing great delicacy of smell and touch, and 
used in seeking out and discriminating their food. 
In the Rhinoceros the lip is elongated, but without 
being pierced by the nostrils ; and in the Pigs we 
perhaps see the most industriously nosed quadru- 
peds, the lengthened form, and stiff pierced 
cartilage, serving as a powerful instrument to 
turn up the surface in search of insects, worms, 
VOL. XXIII. g 
