36 Wild Beasts 



time ignited wads from the pieces discharged had set fire 

 to a bunch of stubble near by, and two more old bulls 

 who followed the original band, went up to the blaze ; 

 one, the older and larger, appearing to be "much amused 

 at it." This tusker staggered off with a mortal wound, 

 and another came forward and stood still to drink within 

 half pistol-shot of Colonel Gumming, who killed him. 

 Three more male elephants now made their appearance, 

 "first two, and then one," and of these two were shot, 

 though only one of them fatally. What possible explana- 

 tion can the doctrine of instinct give of such behavior 

 as this upon the part of wild beasts .-' How does this kind 

 of conduct accord with the idea of a ready-made mind 

 that does not need to learn in order to know } In what 

 manner shall we adjust such conduct to preconceptions 

 concerning natural timidity and that implanted fear of 

 man "predetermined by the Deity".? It may be said, 

 of course, that Colonel Cumming's account was over- 

 drawn ; but the reply to an objection of this kind is that, 

 overwhelming evidence to the same effect could be easily 

 produced. 



When an observant visitor walks along the line of plat- 

 forms in an Indian elephant-stable, the differences exhib- 

 ited by its occupants can scarcely fail to attract attention ; 

 and with every increase in his knowledge, these diversi- 

 ties accumulate in number and augment in importance. 

 During the free intercourse of forest life, some influence, 

 most probably sexual selection, has produced breeds whose 

 characteristics are unmistakable. Even the uninitiated 

 may at once recognize these. Koomeriah, Dwasala, and 



