The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
THE ELEPHANTS TRUNK.
English Scientist Offers a Solution of
Much-Debated Question.


The recent discoveries of fossil remains OF
ancestral proboscideans in the tertiary deposits
OF the Fayum district OF Egypt. combined with
careful study Of the skeleton OF certain species
of mastodon known to science for many years
have enabled DR.. c. W. Andrews Proceedings
of the Royal Society TO indicate very clearly
the manner in which the trunk Of the modern
elephantS has been gradually evolved
lively small and short-iegged animals, Which
had. Of course, no difficulty in putting their
these primitive forms gradually increased in
bodily stature, and more especially in length of
order to be able 70 obtain food or water rd from m
the level OF the ground they must have either
increased inc length OF the neck or have deyel-
in the case of large and heavy-headed animals.
enormous tusks of the extinct mastodons and
modern elephants. IL will be further manifest
that an increase in the length of the vertebrate
of the neck. and hence of the neck itself, would
from mechanical considerations, have been i'm
possible. Accordingly. the only practical course
In the earliest forms the lower jaw was short
and heavy. with the union between the two
lower jaw had become very long and terminated
this proionsation Of the lower jaw it is quite quite;
evident that the upper lip and nose must like
formed kind Of proboscis. of which the tip
was most likely more or less prehensile. For
longation of the lower attained its maximum
development than the length Of its troughlike
sympnySlS began TO diminish Till the structure
eliminated In the short snout found in the la ter
mas todons and the modern elephants. During
these changes the length Of the proboscis must
and tactile power were likewise at the same
time augmented till the structure attained its
full development in the elephants of to-day.
In this connection IL may be noticed that the
trunk of the African elephant differs very mark
eddy in structure from that OF its Indian cousin
thus indicating that these two types diverged
from the common ancestral stock at a compare
lively early date. In addition 10 the we'll known
difference In the form of the tip. the trunk of
the African elephant is distinguished from tina I
of the Indian species by its segmented structure,
so that II has the appearance OF being composed
of a number Of distinct pieces. of which
slides into the other. like the joints of tele-
scope The Indian elephants trunk. on the
may be compared TO a tapering India rubber
hosepipe. Ii Is evidently more highly specialized
structure than is the prob )scis of the African
species. During the time that the lower Jaw
and trunk were being gradually developed into
their present form the tusks and cheek teeth
were likewise undergoing a process of develop
ment, which has eliminated in the condition
obtaining in the Indian elephant. Since how
ever. the later stages of this development will
be found described in geological textbooks. il
need not be further referred to this occasion
Till the Egyptian discoveries the origin of
the proboscidea was a problem that had baffed
paleontologists. while evolutionists were equally
at loss 10 account for the mode OF origin OF that
boscis. Thanks Dr. Andrews. both problems
have been satisfactorily solved. and we are thus
able TO cdd one more fairly complete pedigree TO
the history Of animal life.