THE INDIAN ELEPHANT 



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burning rays of the sun, to which it never voluntarily exposes itself. As Sir S. 

 Baker observes, ' ' its dark color and immense surface attract an amount of heat 

 which becomes almost intolerable to the unfortunate creature when forced to carry 

 a heavy load in the hot season in India. Even without a greater weight than its 

 rider, the elephant exhibits signs of distress when marching after 9 A. M. " In 



INDIAN ELEPHANT DRINKING. 



cloudy and showery weather elephants move about a good deal during the time that 

 they are in the open country; and when traveling from one forest to another they 

 almost invariably march in single file. 



Herds of elephants usually consist of from about thirty to fifty individuals, all 

 of which belong, as a rule, to a single family; although females and young males 

 are said occasionally to migrate from their own proper herd to another. In some 



