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ZOOLOGIST'S CALENDAR FOR JANUARY.

QUADRUPEDS.-Those of our indigenous quadrupeds which exhibit the remarkable phænomenon of torpidity, as the Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), and more especially the Hedgehog (Erinaceus Europaeus), and Dormouse (Myoxus avellanarius), are at this dreary season sunk in their deep repose, defended from the inclemency of the weather in retreats well lined with dry leaves and moss, and other non-conductors of heat. The dormouse commonly selects a cleft in a hazelbush or black-thorn, about three or four feet from the ground, and carefully closes the aperture to its domicile when it has taken up its final abode. Hedgehogs make a snug retreat for themselves, where, imbedded in leaves and moss, they remain concealed for the winter.

BIRDS.-The Blackbird (Merula vulgaris), Thrush (Turdus musicus), Redbreast (Sylvia rubecula), Wren (Anorthura communis), Tomtit (Parus cæruleus), Hedgesparrow (Sylvia modularis), Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Woodlark (Alauda arborea), and Chaffinch (Fringilla spiza), begin to sing occasionally.

Those birds which in summer frequent woods and solitary places, now approach our dwellings. Several species of seafowl and water-birds may be met with on our rivers. Larks begin to congregate. The Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) begins to build; and towards the end of the month the Redbreast (Sylvia rubecula), and Housesparrow (Fringilla domestica), commence their nests. The smallest of British birds, the Golden-crested Wren (Sylvia regulus), may now be seen in thick hedges near the house.

Some birds are accused of destroying the buds of trees at this season; but the truth is, that it is the insects frequenting the buds, and not the buds themselves, of which the birds are in search.

INSECTS Swarm under hedges on sunny days. Gnats play about; spiders make their webs; bees appear.

The following may be occasionally met with during this month. The Peacock Butterfly (Vanessa Io), the Early Moth (Cheimatobia rupicapraria), the Bay Shoulder Moth (Peronea spadiceana), the Hearth Cricket (Acheta domesticus), the Dung Beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius), and the Chain Beetle, (Carabus catenulatus).

Notwithstanding the severe cold usual at this season, the eggs of many caterpillars which were deposited in autumn survive, and are hatched in the course of the spring.

Many small insects may also be found amongst mosses.

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THE

ZOOLOGICAL MAGAZINE.

THE ELEPHANT.

AFTER the numerous histories, compilations, and anecdotes respecting the Elephant which have appeared either as separate treatises, or in the periodical publications of the day, it may with some reason be supposed that the subject has been already exhausted, and that another description of this, though it be the most stupendous and interesting of quadrupeds, can afford very little either of novelty or entertainment. But a careful review of these several accounts convinces us that an accurate description of the species and varieties of the genus Elephas, and a faithful recital of those qualities which render this sagacious animal so useful an auxiliary to man in the most important of our colonial possessions, may still prove interesting to the lover of zoology at home, and useful, it is hoped, to those who now are, or are likely to become, residents in the East Indies.

All the accurate knowledge which we at present possess relative to the mode of propagation, the growth, the disposition, and faculties of the elephant, is founded on observations made upon the Asiatic species and it may be doubted how far we are warranted in referring the attributes of this to the less commonly known elephant, which ranges uncontrolled in the wilds of Africa. Buffon indeed, and most writers previous to Cuvier, have applied the remarks of observers to both species indiscriminately, for it was not until they had been subjected to the penetrating scrutiny of the latter celebrated naturalist that their real specific difference was distinctly pointed out.

In this country it naturally happens, from our relations with the East Indies, that the elephant which is most commonly exhibited in menageries is of the Asiatic species. The two young individuals which have been seen to such advantage during the past summer in the Gardens of the Zoological Society are of this kind. In the menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes, however, there is at present a fine young African elephant (Elephas Africanus, Cuv.), as well as a noble Asiatic one (Elephas Indicus, Cuv.). Hence the most ample opportunities have been afforded to the eminent naturalists who have the charge of that truly national establishment Zool. Mag. No. 2.

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to determine accurately the sum and nature of their spe cific differences, and to furnish the world with figures of unquestionable fidelity, and executed under all the advantages of the present condition of the arts. These figures, which have recently appeared in the splendid illustrations of the Parisian menagerie, we have had faithfully copied and engraved for our present Number, so that the differences of form in the two species may be readily observed.

The head of the elephant of Africa is smaller, more elongated, and less irregular in its contour than that of the Asiatic species. The summit is rounded instead of being divided by a central longitudinal depression. But the most striking feature in the African elephant is the enormous size of his ears, which extend over his shoulders, and when agitated to and fro, beat the air with a violence and noise equal to that produced by the flapping of the wings of the condor or other huge bird. On the thick integument which invests the disproportionately small foot of the elephant five hoofs may be observed on the fore foot in both species, whilst on the hind foot four hoofs are observable in the Asiatic elephant, and three only in the African. We should be mistaken, however, in supposing that the number of toes strictly corresponded to these outward indications; for in both species, when the skin and flesh are removed and the bony framework is exposed, these huge productions of nature are seen to have been constructed on the same plan, and the ultimate divisions of all the four extremities are seen in the skeleton to be into five distinct parts or toes.

It has been observed that the extremity of the proboscis in the African elephant is better constructed as a prehensile organ, and that he seizes thin substances with greater ease and effect than his Eastern relative. The tail in the African species is shorter by half its length than in the Asiatic.

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These characters are open to superficial inspection, and may be readily seized by the youngest student of zoology: but the most important specific distinction requires a closer investigation it is derived from the differences presented by the worn-down surfaces of the grinding teeth;-those of the Asiatic elephant presenting parallel transverse wavy ridges, while the African's grinders are marked by transverse lozenge-shaped ridges.

The degree of difference, therefore, between those two animals, when strictly considered with reference to the modern methods in zoology, is even greater than usually separates species such as the dog and wolf; and is equivalent rather to that which distinguishes the dog from the hyena. A distinct

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