mainly supplied from that which is coarse and
common, yet he is fond of delicacies, and the
sensible tip of his proboscis is constantly in re-
quisition to select minute dainties, as_ berries
and other small fruits, farinaceous roots, &c.
Grass, or similar herbage, is cropped by twisting
the trunk spirally round it; and as much muscu-
lar power is obtained by this action, it is em-
ployed whenever the object grasped offers resis-
tance, as in the dragging down of the boughs of
trees to browse on their leaves.
Frequently the amount collected by a single ac- tion of the trunk is so small as to be unworthy of the trouble of con- veying it singly into the mouth; in this case the Elephant places it behind the projecting edge, which answers as a thumb, while with the finger he gathers more. M. Houel thus speaks of this habit:—‘‘ One of the Hle- phants seeing me look © at him attentively, stretched out his trunk, as if to ask for some- thing to eat. I looked about, and having found a bunch of carrots, picked out the smallest and gave it to him. He noticed my intention, and made me un- derstand that so small a carrot did not deserve the trouble of folding his trunk in order to carry it to his mouth; for he took the carrot with his
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GATHERING STRONG HERBAGE. MODE OF HOLDING A ROOT.
