Page:Natural History (1848).djvu/145

Rh 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 requisition 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 muscular power is obtained by this action, it is employed whenever the object grasped offers resistance, as in the dragging down of the boughs of trees to browse on their leaves.

Frequently the amount collected by a single action of the trunk is so small as to be unworthy of the trouble of conveying 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 Elephants seeing me look at him attentively, stretched out his trunk, as if to ask for something 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 understand 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 GATHERING STRONG HERBAGE.

MODE OF HOLDING A ROOT.