ELEPHANTS 723 



has travelled. They do not often feed at noon; but during 

 all the remainder of the day and night they feed at any 

 time they choose. They drink great quantities of water; 

 but in desert lands this may be only on every other day, and 

 they may travel fifty miles between drinks. If much hunted 

 they drink only at night. 



Elephants are interesting because they have such varied 

 feelings, such a wide range of intelligent appreciation. 

 Doubtless this is in part due to the possession, in the trunk, 

 of an organ the development of which has itself permitted 

 development of brain power. Very great brain power could 

 not have been developed as an accompaniment merely of 

 hoofs; hands, however imperfect, were necessary, or else 

 something that would serve as a partial substitute for hands. 

 By watching a herd of elephants any one can speedily see 

 the wide range of uses to which the trunk is put, and the 

 many needs and emotions which it develops and satisfies. 

 During courtship the bull and cow caress one another 

 with their trunks. Elephants are very curious, and the 

 trunks are used to test every object which arouses their 

 curiosity. The cow is constantly fondling and guiding the 

 calf with her trunk. The trunk is used to gather every 

 species of food and to draw water. It is used to spurt dust 

 or water over the body; it is used to test rotten and danger- 

 ous ground. It is in constant use to try the wind so as to 

 guard against the approach of any foe. As one watches the 

 great beasts the trunks continually appear in the air above 

 them, uncurling, twisting, feeling each breath of air. Now 

 and then a great ear is flapped. Now and then the weight of 

 the body is slightly shifted from one colossal leg to another. 

 The huge beasts are rarely entirely motionless for any 



