1 68 The Wild Elephant. 



Academy in 1847, has stated that on a careful examina- 

 tion of the head of an elephant which he had dissected, 

 he could " see no evidence of the muscular structure of 

 the membrana tympani so accurately described by Sir 

 E. Home." Sir Everard's deduction, I may observe, 

 is clearly inconsistent with the fact that the power of 

 two elephants may be combined by singing to them a 

 measured chant, somewhat resembling a sailor's capstan 

 song ; and in labour of a particular kind, such as hauling 

 a stone with ropes, they will thus move conjointly a 

 weight to which their divided strength would be unequal. ^ 

 Nothing can more strongly exhibit the impulse to 

 obedience in the elephant, than the patience with which, 

 at the order of his keeper, he swallows the nauseous 

 medicines of the native elephant-doctors ; and it is im- 

 possible to witness the fortitude with which, without 

 shrinking, he submits to excruciating surgical operations 

 for the removal of tumours and ulcers, without con- 

 ceiving a vivid impression of his gentleness and intelli- 

 gence. Dr. Davy when in Ceylon was consulted about 



^ I have already noticed the striking as he describes its excitement at the 



effect produced on the captive elephants more animated portions, its step being 



in the corral, by the harmonious notes regulated to the time and movements 



of an ivory flute ; and on looking to the of the harmony : the whole "surprising- 



graphic description which is given by in a creature whose Hints are -withojit 



^LiAN of the exploits which he wit- joints!" 



nessed as performed by the elephants ,. - _ - . '^ ••/!„.. „•, 



*^ , -^ , ^ Kati'oi' Tt Trotajf e.; avnpvpijiu op- 



exhibited at Rome, it is remarkable 



how very large a share of their traming p^j^^^^^ ^_^^^_^_ ^. ^^^^;^_ 



appears to have been ascribed to the , ^ 



employment of music. 



. Phile, in the account which he has For an account of the training and 



given of the elephant's fondness for performances of the elephants at Rome, 



music, would almost seem to have as narrated by ^Elian, see the ap- 



versified the prose narrative of /Elian, pendix to this chapter. 



