820 
EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 
emblems as that one in which wisdom and universal power, or the deity Ganessa, 
is characterised by the Elephant’s trunk. It arises by strong muscular fibres 
from the interior part of the os frontis, the Ossa nasi, and superior maxillary 
bones, and may be characterised as a flexible fleshy process, extending from its 
origin to the ground, being longer or shorter, smaller or larger, according to the 
height and size of the individual Elephant it belongs to. It is covered by the 
common integuments, and tapers gradually from the attachment with the skull, 
to its point; where it is terminated on its anterior side by a finger-like process 
jutting beyond the posterior termination. The inner . side of this finger is not 
covered by the common integuments, and in it seems to be concentrated the 
whole sense of touch belonging to the animal, and that to a most exquisite extent. 
The trunk is divided along its mesial line by a strong and thick membranous 
partition into two equal-sized cylindrical canals, which communicate with the 
nares and throat, and are each lined by a membrane similar to that forming the 
partition between them; this membrane does not appear to be furnished with 
any secretory apparatus, and the walls of each canal are ever apart, owing to the 
strong nature of the centre partition and lining membrane. The canals are not 
true cylinders, being flat on their lower side, and arched on the upper, precisely 
in the same manner as is the trunk itself. Through these canals the animal 
breathes and smells, and with them he raises water by suction, and transfers it 
to the pharynx through the mouth to be swallowed. I could not discover the 
means by which the water is prevented from passing directly into the throat; if 
this apparatus exists in the canals of the trunk, it must be immediately at the 
external orifice of the nares, for throughout the entire length of the trunk proper, 
there is no means for bringing the sides of the canals in opposition .—India 
Review , August, 1837. 
2. Sagacity of Animals.—A late number of the Bibliotheque XJniverselle 
contains some remarkable and well-ascertained instances of animal sagacity, from 
which we select the following:— 
A person lodging in one of the fauxbourgs observed daily, for several weeks, 
six Dogs, who used regularly to come at the same hour, and assemble in an 
adjacent meadow, where they sported and amused themselves. The motive of 
their assembly was as obviously the purpose of sport as that of persons who go to 
a ball or a spectacle, at an appointed hour. 
An attempt was made to teach a Dog to mount a ladder ; but the animal was 
soon fatigued with the exercise, and escaped. But the next day he was seen to 
return to the ladder alone, and voluntarily endeavour to succeed in mounting it, 
as if the motive of ambition impelled him to renew the attempt. 
A milkman who used to go before the break of day in winter to fetch milk 
from a farmer , who supplied him, had a Dog whom he employed to carry his 
