306 Mammals of Eastern Asia 
of Africa and southwest Asia, Order Hyracoidea. These mam- 
mals, the "coneys" of the Bible, are small marmot-like creatures. 
The manatees and dugongs, Order Sirenia, are perhaps the de- 
scendants of Elephant allies that became aquatic. 
The Asiatic Elephant, Elephas maximus, with its trunk, its 
enormously thick-set body and sloping hind quarters, and its 
pillar-like legs terminating in rounded, cushioned feet with the 
toes so buried in them that only the five toenails show, is a 
familiar sight to every circus-goer. Large tusks are developed in 
males; those of females scarcely extend beyond the lips. For 
centuries these thick-skinned giants of the animal world have 
been domesticated in the Far East and used as laborers to roll, 
drag, or carry teak logs here and there, or as beasts of burden. 
Their great strength permits them to carry miniature hunting 
lodges or howdahs on their backs. 
The association of the Elephant with man goes far back into 
mythology. In India the elephant-faced God, Ganesa, plays a 
part in religion. The mythical origin of Elephants, according 
to Hindu lore, was the two half shells of a "cosmic egg" The 
Creator chanted seven "samans" at once, whereupon eight bull 
Elephants were born from one half shell and eight cows from 
the other. In course of time the offspring of these Elephants 
ranged over the whole world. Formerly Elephants had the power 
of flight and of going anywhere they liked. But once, when 
landing in a banyan tree, they accidentally broke off a branch 
which fell upon the dwelling place of a hermit. The angry 
hermit cursed them so effectively that he deprived them of the 
power of moving at will, and they became subjugated to mortal 
men. 
Wild Elephants today customarily live together in herds of 
fifteen to thirty individuals. The herd is headed by a large old 
bull but may contain a number of younger bulls, as well as 
many females and calves. The food consists of leaves and small 
branches, fruits, tubers, melons. In captivity a good-sized Ele- 
