See Elephas, MAMMALIA Index.

American ELEPHANT: An animal only known in a fossil state, and that but partially, from the teeth, some of the jaw-bones, the thigh-bones, and vertebrae, found with many others five or six feet beneath the surface on the banks of the Ohio. But these bones differ in several respects from those of the elephant; for which, see Fossil Bones. As yet the living animal has evaded our search. Mr Pennant thinks it "more than probable, that it still exists in some of those remote parts of the vast new continent unpenetrated yet by Europeans. Providence maintains and continues every created species; and we have as much assurance that no race of animals will any more cease while the earth remains, than feed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day or night." See MAMMUTH.

ELEPHANT-Beetle. See Scarabaeus, Entomology Index.

Knights of the ELEPHANT, an order of knighthood in Denmark, conferred upon none but persons of the first quality and merit. It is also called the order of St Mary. Its institution is said to have been owing to a gentleman among the Danish croises having killed an elephant, in an expedition against the Saracens, in 1184; in memory of which, King Canute instituted this order, the badge of which is a towered elephant, with an image of the holy virgin encircled with rays, and hung on a watered sky-colored ribbon, like the george in England.