Sp. 1. ELEPHAS Africanus. The African elephant. Scull rounded, processes of the enamel in the grinders, forming a series of lozenges touching each other in the middle ; ears large ; toes four before and three behind.
The tusks of tnis species yield the hest ivory, and are the largest in point of size. The tusks of the female differ but little in size those of the male. The ears ate very large, and fall back and cover the shoulder. The hide is of a deep brown colour. The ordinary height is from eight to upwards of ten feet.
The native country of this species of elephant, is Africa. He inhabits the immense forests and dreary wastes of that extensive continent. In modern times few attempts have been made to bring this species into bondage, or to employ him for any useful purpose. Hence it is, that we know less of the manners of this species than of following, which in the East has long been the slate of man.
Sp. 2 ELEPHAS Indicus. Asiatic elephant. Scull lengthened, forehead concave, enamel of the grinders dis posed in the form of flattened ovals placed across the tooth ; ears large ; horny nails, five before and four be hind La Menagerie du Museum .it ational d'Histoire .1"atu relle,1801, p. 1, tab. 1, 2.
The females of this species, and some varieties of the male, have small straight tusks. The ears are small, and often angular. The hide is grey, speckled with brown, and sometimes white. The height from eight to twelve feet.
The elephants in Bengal are divided by the natives in to two casts, which they term Koomareah or princely race, and the Merghee or hunting race. The Kooma rcali is a deep-bodied, strong, compact animal, with a large trunk (which is always esteemed a great beauty in an elephant,) legs short, but thick in proportion to the size of the animal. This variety is preferred, as it is of superior strength, can undergo greater fatigue, and car ry heavier burdens than the following. An elephant of the Merghee cast, when full grown, is generally taller than the former, but has not so compact a form ; his legs are long, he travels fast, has a lighter body, and his trunk is both short and slender in proportion to his height. There appears no predilection in any of these elephants to have exclusive connection with his own particular cast, and hence the mixed breed is held in greater or less estimation, in proportion as it partakes of the qualities of the Koomareah or Merghec cast. In some elephants the tusks are large, as in the variety termed the Dauntelah, in which they generally pro ject forwards, and curve upwards. In the variety term ed the Mooknah, the tusks are very small and straight, and point almost directly downward% An elephant of this species is said to be perfect when his ears are large and rounded, not ragged or indented at the margin; his eyes of a dark hazle colour, free from specks ; the roof of his mouth and his tongue without dark or black spots of any considerable size ; his trunk large, and his tail long, with a tuft of hair reaching nearly to the ground. There must be five nails on
each of his fore feet, and four on each of the hind ones, making eighteen in all ; his head well set on, and car-• ried rather high. The arch or curve of his back rising gradually from the shoulder to the middle, and thence descending to the insertion of the tail.
This species inhabits the continent of Asia, and is found on both sides of the Ganges, in China, and in the larger islands of the Indian Ocean. He has long been brought into a state of subjection to man. His manners are therefore very well known, and have been briefly de tailed in the preceding general description.
Sp. S. ELEPHAS Primigenius. Fossil Elephant or Mammoth. Scull lengthened, forehead concave, under jaw obtuse, grinders large. parallel processes of the ena mel disposed in closely set ribbands, sockets of the tusks very long.
As many of our readers may be unacquainted with this species, which it is highly probable no longer exists in a living state on the surface of the globe, we shall subjoin a few remarks illustrative of its history.
In various parts of Europe, from the shores of the frozen ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, bones and teeth of a large size have, at different times, been dug up. They have been found in alluvial strata of earth, gravel, or sand, generally in valleys, near the mouths of large rivers, and likewise in islands, as Iceland and Great Bri tain. These bones were at first considered as belonging to an extinct race of giants. But, in proportion as the science of natural history was cultivated, such ridicu lous fables disappeared, and these bones were considered as belonging to the elephant, at that time supposed to be the largest animal which had ever existed. This was an important step in the investigation of these fossil re mains, and little else seemed wanting in their history but to account for the means by which they were brought to their present situation. Had they been found only in those countries, which had been conquered by the arms of the Macedonians, Carthaginians, or Romans, it might have been supposed that they had been brought by man to their present situation, since these nations carried along with them a powerful host of trained elephants. But the occurrence of those bones in Iceland, and at the mouths of the rivers of Siberia, clearly proved that these relics were not the remains of elephants slain in battle. The inhabitants of Russia invented a much more simple tale, to account for the occurrence of these fossil relics. They supposed them to belong to an animal, in its man ners resembling a mole, living under the surface of the earth, and unable to endure the light of day. To this subterraneous animal they gave the name of Mam moth.