Mary McCain, age 11, of Charlotte, N.C., for her question:

IS AN ELEPHANT'S TRUNK USEFUL?

The six foot long boneless mass of flesh and muscles that bends easily and is called a trunk is probably the elephant's most important feature. Weighing about 300 pounds, the trunk is used by the elephant to smell, drink and feed himself.

The elephant depends more on his sense of smell than any other sense. His trunk is almost always sniffing, either high in the air or down on the ground.

About a gallon and a half of water can be held in the elephant's trunk at one time. He uses the trunk to carry water to his mouth, and can also give himself a shower by shooting a stream of water into the air above himself.

Sensitive tips of the trunks tell elephants if an object being touched is soft or smooth, or hot or cold.