154 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



Fh»t, i, M F. F. K,urd, Eif. 



FEMALE INDIAN ELEPHANT DRAGGING TEAK 



The teak logs are floated down the Burmese rivers and dragged out bv elephants 



seen. It weighs 228 lbs., measures 10 feet 2 l / z inches on the outside curve, and 24 ^ in girth at 

 the thickest part. The tusks of cow elephants are also considerably larger and heavier on the 

 average in East Central and North Central Africa than in the southern portions of the continent. 



At the present time the Asiatic elephant is found in a wild state in most of the forest- 

 covered tracts of India, Ceylon, Assam, Burma, Siam, Cochin-China, Sumatra, and Borneo; 

 whilst the African species, although it has been hunted out of large tracts of country in South 

 and Southwestern Africa, still inhabits the greater part of the continent south of the Sahara, and 

 in many districts of Central Africa appears to be extraordinarily abundant. In the Cape Colony 

 two herds still exist under the protection of the Government. 



As might be expected from the greater length of its legs, and consequent longer stride, the 

 African elephant is admitted by those who have had experience of both species to be a more 

 active animal than its Asiatic cousin. Speaking of the walking and running powers of the Indian 

 elephant, that great authority Mr. Sanderson says that •• the only pace of the elephant i- the 

 walk, capable of being increased to a fast shuffle of about fifteen miles an hour for very short dis- 

 tances. It can neither trot, canter, nor gallop. It does not move with the legs on the same 

 side, but nearly so. A very good runner might keep out of an elephant's way on a smooth 

 piece of turf, but on the ground in which they are generally met with any attempt to escape by 

 flight, unless supplemented by concealment, would be unavailing." This description exactly 

 coincides with my own experience oi the African elephant, except that I think that animals ol 

 the latter species, especially cows and young bulls, are capable of getting up a pace of at least 

 twenty miles an hour, and keeping it up for from IOO to 200 yards, when charging. 



