--*■> 



The African P21cphaiit 



also make a division of sexes ; especially when the 

 elephants settle down under the trees during- the day. 



Lately the herds in Masai-land, which have been so 

 much thinned, have not been able to keep up so strictly 

 the order and division into separate age-classes as when 

 there was a good supply of elephants. 



It is a much-debated question whether the old bulls 

 which go about alone or in couples attach themselves at 

 times to the herds tor breeding purposes. Personally I 

 do not believe this, but am of opinion that the stronger 

 herd-bulls with tusks weighing about 50 lb. are those 

 which are the principal propagators, whilst in most cases 

 the quite old solitary bulls are more or less incapable 

 specimens of their kind. 



It is a remarkable fact that an elephant calf whose 

 mother is dead is immediately adopted and cared tor by 

 other cows, but, of course, only if it is l^ig enough to 

 join in an escape. This fact, which I am positive of. 

 testifies to the close social union in which the herds live 

 and to their strongly developed family feeling. 



The lactation period extends itself over several years, 

 as is the case with rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses. 

 As with the Indian elephant, the time of gestation lasts 

 about twenty-two months. I do not think that the females 

 are capable of conception before the age of fifteen years, 

 while the males develop their generative power some- 

 what earlier. At twenty-five a male elephant has reached 

 his prime, although he sometimes attains a very great age. 



I repeatedly tound small herds composed of what 

 appeared to be very old lemales with sucklings and five 

 VOL. I. 161 II 



