iii6 THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



trunk, which is admirably adapted for such a purpose, as it is for drawing up water. 

 There is, however, much popular misapprehension as to the other uses of the elephant's- 

 trunk, in regard to which a few words are expedient. In addition to its use as a 

 purveyor of food and water to the mouth, the trunk is the organ of touch and smell, 

 and is altogether extremely delicate and sensitive. When any danger is impending, 

 elephants, except in some cases when charging an enemy, invariably curl up the 

 trunk out of harm's way. In regard to the alleged employment of the trunk of the 

 Indian elephant for all manner of purposes, Sanderson observes that ' ' the idea that 

 he can use it for any purpose, from picking up a needle to dragging a piece of ord- 

 nance from a bog, is, like many others, founded entirely on imagination. An ele- 

 phant might manage the former feat, though I doubt it; the latter he would not at- 

 tempt. Elephants engaged in such work as dragging timber, invariably take the 

 rope between their teeth; they never attempt to pull a heavy weight with the trunk. 

 In carrying a light log, they hold it in the mouth as a dog does a stick, receiving 

 some little assistance in balancing it from the trunk. Tuskers generally use their 

 tusks for this and similar purposes, and are more valuable than females for work. 

 An elephant is powerful enough to extricate a cannon from a difficult situation, but 

 he does it by pushing with his head or feet, or in harness never by lifting or 

 drawing with his trunk. ' ' 



An equal degree of misapprehension is prevalent as to the intelli- 

 gence of elephants, at least so far as the Indian species is concerned;, 

 and all competent observers who have had much practical experience with these ani- 

 mals are of opinion that their intellectual faculties have been greatly overrated in 

 popular estimation. It is true, that when in captivity the Indian elephant exhibits 

 a marvelous docility and obedience, and is also capable of learning to perform certain 

 kinds of labor, such as stacking logs of timber, which at first sight appears to de- 

 mand a considerable amount of intellectual power. There is here, however, a con- 

 siderable amount of confusion, as Mr. Blanford remarks, between high intelligence 

 and mere docility and capacity for receiving instruction; and there can be little doubt 

 that the usefulness of the elephant is due to the latter rather than to the former 

 trait. Indeed, the size and structure of the brain is quite sufficient to prove that 

 the intellectual capacity of elephants is far inferior to that of dogs, and is probably 

 below that of most other Ungulates. 



This view of their intelligence is strongly confirmed by the circumstance that 

 elephants, in spite of many statements to the contrary, are wanting in originality, 

 and do not rise to the occasion when confronted by any sudden emergency or event 

 beyond the range of their ordinary daily experience. As Sir Samuel Baker perti- 

 nently observes, an elephant "can be educated to perform certain acts, but he would 

 never volunteer his services. There is no elephant that I ever saw who would spon- 

 taneously interfere to save his master from drowning or from attack. An enemy 

 might assassinate you at the feet of your favorite elephant, but he would never at- 

 tempt to interfere in your defense; he would probably run away, or remain impas- 

 sive, unless guided and instructed by his mahout. This is incontestable; the 

 elephant will do nothing useful unless he is specially ordered to perform a certain 

 work or movement." At the same time, in addition to its capacity for receiving 



