ELEPHANTS. 
545 
this point, we must turn our attention to the trade in mammoth ivory. It appears 
that in 1872 no less than 1630 of these tusks, and in the following year 1140, were 
imported into England; and it may be estimated that for a long time fully 
120,000 lbs. weight of fossil ivory found its way year by year into the market. 
This means that within a period of twenty years, over 20,000 mammoths must 
have been discovered; which affords ample proof that Siberia was as thickly 
inhabited by these animals, as was ever Africa by the elephant of modern times. 
It may be added that only about 14 per cent, of the tusks imported afford first- 
class ivory, in addition to which about 17 per cent, are capable of being used where 
ivory of the best quality is not required. 
A EIGHT UPPER MOLAR TOOTH OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT 
(i nat. size). (From Sir R. Owen.) 
The African Elephant ( Elephas africanus). 
The African elephant differs widely from its Asiatic congener, not only in 
external form, but likewise as regards the structure of its molar teeth; the males 
also reaching larger dimensions than those ordinarily attained by the latter. 
The most striking external characteristic of the African species i% the enormous 
size of the ears, which, when in repose, completely cover the shoulders, but during 
periods of excitement are elevated at right angles, and thus communicate a most 
extraordinary appearance to their 
owner. The head is also much 
more convex in the region of the 
forehead, the eye is larger, and 
the extremity of the trunk, 
instead of having one long 
finger-like process on its front 
edge, has two nearly equal-sized 
processes, one in front and the 
other behind. The colour of the skin is also somewhat darker. In general form, 
the African species is distinguished by the middle of the back being hollowed, and 
the shoulder the highest point, while the hind-foot carries three, in place of four, 
nails. As a general rule, both the males and females are furnished with well- 
developed tusks, which attain larger dimensions than those of the Indian elephant; 
but Mr. Blanford states that in Eastern and Northern Abyssinia all the elephants 
appear to be almost tuskless, or to have very small and short tusks. The molar 
teeth are distinguished by the smaller number and greater thickness of their plates ; 
each of these plates expanding in the middle in an angulated form, so that when 
worn (as shown in the accompanying figure) each plate presents a lozenge-shaped 
area of ivory bordered by enamel. Moreover, the enamel is not puckered in the 
manner characterising the molars of the Indian species. The number of plates in 
the first molar is usually three, in the second six, in the third and fourth seven, in 
the fifth eight, and in the last ten. 
That the African elephant frequently attains a height of 10 feet 
Dimensions. ^ Qyer at the slloulders | s we n ascertained, but we have no records 
of its maximum dimensions in the wild state. A male killed in South Africa b;y 
H.R.H. the Duke of Coburg, which stood 10 feet at the withers, had a length 
vol. II.— 35 
