Chap. III.] ELEPHANT SHOOTING. 325 



of the ear is also a fatal spot, and often resorted to, 

 the places I have mentioned in the front of the head 

 being only accessible when the animal is " charging." 

 Professor Harrison, in his communication to the Eoyal 

 Irish Academy in 1847, on the Anatomy of the Ele- 

 phant, has rendered an intelligible explanation of tliis 

 in the following passage descriptive of the cranium : 

 — " it exhibits t^vo remarkable facts ; firsts the smaU 

 space occupied by the brain ; and, secondly, the 

 beautifid and curious structure of the bones • of the 

 head. The two tables of all these bones, except the 

 occipital, are separated by rows of large cells, some 

 from four to five inches in length, others only small, 

 irregular, and honey-comb-like : — these all commu- 

 nicate with each other, and, tln^ough the frontal sinuses, 

 with the cavity of the nose, and also with the tympanum 

 or drum of each ear ; consequently, as in some bhxls, 

 these cells are filled with air, and thus while the skull 

 attains a great size in order to afford an extensive surftice 

 for the attachment of muscles, and a mechanical support 

 for the tusks, it is at the same time very hght and 

 buoyant in proportion to its bulk ; a property the more 

 valuable as the animal is fond of water and bathes in 

 deep rivers." 



Generally speaking, a single ball, planted in the fore- 

 head, ends the existence of the noble creature instan- 

 taneously : and expert sportsmen have been known to Idll 

 right and left, one with each barrel ; but occasionally 

 an elephant will not fall before several shots have been 

 lodo-ed in his head.^ 



witlistanding the comparative facility \ I tliink the temple the most certain, 

 of access to the brain aftbrded at this ' but authority in Ceylon says the 

 spot, an ordmary leaden bullet is not , ' fronter,' that is, aboVe the 'trunk, 

 certain to penetrate, and frequently I Behind the ear is said to be deadly, 

 becomes flattened. The hunters, to I but that is a shot which I never fired 

 comiteract this, are accustomed to ! or saw fired that I remember. If the 

 harden the ball, by the introduction 

 of a small portion of type-metal along 

 witli the lead. 



1 '* There is a wide difference of 

 opinion as to the most deadly shot. 



ball go true to its mark, all shots (in 

 the head) are certain ; but the bones 

 on either side of the honey-combed 

 passage to the brain are so thick 

 that there is in all a 'glorious un- 



Y 3 



