64 STUDIES IN LIFE AND SENSE. 



the human race. It is not known whether the white elephants exhibit 

 any special peculiarity of structure or life ; but the interesting corre- 

 lation has been observed, that almost all white cats which possess 

 blue eyes are deaf. The nature and origin of this association of 

 characters are unknown, but the occurrence of such apparently 

 unconnected states serves to remind us that great as yet are the 

 mysteries which environ the becoming of the living worlds. 



The characters of the Indian and African elephants respectively, 

 are by no means difficult to bear in mind. The Indian elephant 

 (fig. i, i) has a concave or hollowed forehead, and the ears are of 



relatively moderate size. 

 The eye is exceptionally 

 small, whilst there are 

 four nails or hoofs on 

 the hind feet ; the num- 

 ber of toes on each foot 

 being five in all ele- 

 phants. The colour of 

 the Indian species is 

 moreover a pale brown, 

 and is of a lighter hue 

 than that of the African 

 species ; and whilst the 

 former has "tusks" in 

 the males alone, the 



FIG. i. HEADS OF (i) AFRICAN AND latter pOSSCSSCS tusks ill 



(2) INDIAN ELEPHANTS. , ., m, A r . 



both sexes. The African 



elephant (fig. i, 2) has a rounded skull and a convex forehead, and 

 the ears are of very large size. It possesses only three nails on the hind 

 feet, and four hoofs on the front toes. Certain important differences, 

 to be presently noted, also exist between the teeth of these species. 



The limits of size of the two species of elephants appear to 

 have afforded subject-matter for considerable discussion. The 

 average height of the male Indian elephant is from eight to ten feet, 

 and that of the females from seven to eight feet. The African 

 species, according to the most generally recorded testimony, attains 

 a larger size than its Indian neighbour. Sir Emerson Tennent, 

 quoting a source of error in the measurement of elephants, gives the 

 remarks of a writer who says : " Elephants were measured formerly, 

 and even now, by natives, as to their height, by throwing a rope over 

 them, the ends brought to the ground on each side, and half the 

 length taken as the true height. Hence the origin of elephants 

 fifteen and sixteen feet high. A rod held at right angles to the 

 measuring rod, and parallel to the ground, will rarely give more than 

 ten feet, the majority being under nine." 



