734 THE ASIATIC ELEPHANT. 
vast number of honeycomb-like bony cells, their walls being hardly thicker than strong 
paper, and their hollows filled dung the life of the animal w vith a kind of semi-liquid fat 
or oil, The brain lies in a comparatively small cavity within this cellular structure, 
and is therefore defended from the severe concussions which it would otherwise experience 
from the frequency with which the animal employs its head as a battering-ram. It is 
easy to understand the difficulty of killing an Elephant by aiming at the head, for unless 
the shot be directed towards one of the apertures which lead to the brain, such as the eye, 
the ear, or the nostril, the bullet only enters the mass of bony cells, and does comparatively 
little damage. It is worthy of observation, that as the skull of the Asiatic and African 
Elephant is different in shape, a bullet which will destroy one animal might have little. 
effect on the other. 
In order to support the enormous weight which rests upon them, the legs are very stout, 
and are set perpendicularly, without that bend in the hinder leg which is found in most 
animals. There is no elongated cannon hone in the Elephant, so that the hind legs are 
without the so-called knee-joint. This structure, however, is of infinite use to the animal 
when it climbs or descends steep acclivities, 1 feat which it ean perform with marvellous 
ease. It may seem strange, but it is nevertheless true, that localities which would be 
totally inaccessible to a horse are traversed by the Elephant with perfect ease. 
In descending from a height, the animal performs a very curious series of manceuvres. 
Kneeling down, with its fore-feet stretched out in front, and its hinder lees bent back- 
ward, as is their wont, the Elephant hitches one of its fore-feet upon some projection or in 
some crevice, and bearing firmly upon this support, lowers itself for a short distance. 
Tt then advances the other foot, secures it in like manner, and slides still farther, never 
losing its hold of one place of vantage until another is gained. Should no suitable 
projection be found, the Elephant sc rapes a hole in the ground with its advanced foot, and 
makes use of this artificial depression in its descent. If the declivity be very steep, the 
animal will not descend in a direct line, but makes an oblique track along the face of the 
ill. = Although the description of this curious process occupies some time, the actual feat 
is performed with extreme rapidity. 
Though the foot of an Elephant is extremely large, it is most admirably formed for the 
purpose which it is destined to fulfil, and does not, as might be supposed, fall heavily upon 
the ground. The hoof that incloses the foot is composed of a vast number of horny plates 
that are arranged on the principle of the common carriage-spring, and seem to guard the 
animal from the j jarring shock of the heavy limb upon the soil. Those who for the first 
time witness the walk or the run of the Elephant, are always surprised at the silent ease 
of the creature’s free, sweeping step. As there is no short ligament in the head of the 
thigh-bone, the hind foot is swung forward at each step, clearing the ground easily, but 
being scarcely raised above the surface of the earth. 
Having thus given a short sketch of the characteristics which are common to both 
species of Elephants, I will proceed to a short account of the Asiatic animal. 
The Astatic ELEPHANT bears a world-wide fame for its capabilities as a servant and 
companion of man, and for the extraordinary development of its intellectual faculties. 
Hundreds of these animals are annually cereal and in a very short period of time 
become wholly subjected to their owners, and learn to obey their commands with implicit 
submission. Indeed, the power of the human intellect is never so conspicuous as in the 
supremacy which man maintains over so gigantic and clever an animal as the Elephant. 
In all work which requires the applic ation of ereat strength, combined with singular 
judement, the Elephant is supreme ; but as a mere puller and hauler it is of no very great 
value. In piling logs, for example, the Elephant soon learns the proper mode of arrange- 
ment, and will place them upon each other with a regularity that would not be surpassed 
by human workinen. Sir Emerson Tennent mentions a pair of Elephants that were 
accustomed to labour conjointly, and which had been taught to raise their wood piles to a 
considerable height by constructing an inclined plane of sloping beams, and rolling the 
logs up the beams. ‘The same writer, in his most valuable work on Ceylon, gives the 
following curious instance of intelligence in an Elephant :— 
