ELEPHANT (el'i.s.-fant), (Gr.1Xlcpat,el-eh'phas, ivory; for the meaning of shen-hab-beem', see The word occurs frequently in the 1st and 2nd hooks of Maccabees. It is not mentioned in the A.V. of the canonical scriptures except in the marginal readings ( Job x1:15; t Kings x :22; 2 Chron. ix :2t). The elephant is the largest of all terrestrial animals, sometimes reaching to above eleven feet of vertical height at the shoulders, and weighing from five to seven thousand pounds; he is of a black or slaty ash color, and almost destitute of hair. The head, which is proportion ately large, is provided with two broad pendulous ears, particularly in those of the African species, which are occasionally six feet in length. This species has also two molar teeth on each side of the jaw, both above and below, and only three toe-nails on each of the hind feet ; whereas the Asiatic species is provided with only one tooth on each side above and below ; and though both have tusks or defences, the last-mentioned has them confined solely to the males ; they are never of more than seventy pounds weight. often much less, and in some breeds even totally wanting; while in the African both sexes are armed with tusks, and in the males they have been known seven feet in length, and weighing above t5o pounds each. The forehead of the African is low ; that of the Asiatic high ; in both the eyes are com paratively small, with a malevolent expression, and on the temples are pores which exude a viscous humor ; the tail is long, hanging nearly to the heels, and forked at the end. But the
most remarkable organ of the elephant, that which equally enables the animal to reach the ground and to grasp brandies of trees at a considerable height, is the proboscis or trunk ; a cylindrical elastic instrument, in ordinary condition reaching nearly down to the ground, but contractile to two thirds of its usual length, and extensile to one third beyond it ; provided with nearly 4.000muscles crossing each other in such a manner that the proboscis is flexible in every direction, and so abundantly supplied with nerves as to render the organ one of the most delicate in nature.
Elephants are peaceable towards all inoffensive animals, sociable among themselves, and ready to help each other ; gregarious in grassy plains; but more inclined to frequent densely-wooded monntain glens ; at times not unwilling to visit the more arid wastes, hut fond of rivers and pools, where they wallow in mud and water among reeds and under the shade of trees. The Asiatic species, carrying the head higher, has more dignity of appearance, and is believed to have more sagacity and courage than the African; which, however, is not inferior in weight or bulk, and has never been in the hands of such exCerieiwrd managers as the Indian mahouts. l,. II. S.