AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



we find that in the Addo Bush, or East Cape, elephant {Elephas 

 africauHs capensis), which now remains only in a protected condition 

 near Port Elizabeth, the ears are rather small, somewhat square in 

 shape, with rounded corners, and a small, sharply pointed angular 

 lappet at the lower angle (fig. i ). The forehead falls away towards the 

 temples, so as to appear highly arched ; the fore-legs are relativel}' 

 short, and the ventral line of the body is stated to be nearly straight, 

 in place of highly convex. A very characteristic feature of this race 

 is a comparatively abundant coat of hair on many parts of the body. 

 The tusks, like those of the next race, are relatively small. In former 

 days this elephant had, no doubt,, an extensive range on the east 

 side of the Cape, reaching at least as far north as the Orange River 

 Colon)'. 



Next comes the West Cape elephant [E. a. toxotis), now existing 



only under protection 

 i,n the Zitzikama forest 

 near Mossel Ba}', in 

 which the ears are 

 much larger (4 feet 

 5 inches in a female 

 8 feet 8 inches high), 

 long, and semi-oval in 

 shape. In the Mata- 

 bili or Mashonaland 

 race (^E. a. selotisi) the 

 ear is much less ellipti- 

 cal than in the West 

 Cape elephant, and ap- 

 proaches more to that 

 of the Cameroons race, 

 although less com- 

 pletely oval. This race 

 formerly inhabited all 

 Matabililand and Ma- 

 shonaland, and is repre- 

 sented by a mounted 

 head in the Imperial Institute shot by Mr. J. Sligo Jameson, the 

 companion of Mr. F. C. Selous. The tusks are of medium size. 



Very distinct is the West African elephant {E. a. cjdoiis), typically 

 from South Cameroons, in which the ears are very large, but of quite 

 different shape, the contour being a regular, short oval, and the lappet 



Fin 



-Head of East Cape Elephant from the Addo Bush. 



