CHAPTER V 



THE WAYS OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



NOT many months ago a writer stated 

 that the various species of African ele- 

 phants were being exterminated and 

 in a few years would become totally extinct. 

 This may be true in the case of large bulls, ani- 

 mals carrying tusks of not less than sixty pounds 

 the pair, which is the minimum weight for their 

 lawful killing. Unless the law is changed, ele- 

 phants with tusks larger than this may be exter- 

 minated from those parts of Africa accessible to 

 white men, but there are large areas of country 

 "inside" that have been little explored, where 

 big tuskers are yet found in considerable num- 

 bers. 



Young bulls, cows, and calves are still plenti- 

 ful and always will be, for they have no commer- 

 cial value, are seldom molested by the natives, 

 and the danger of elephant hunting is so great 

 that few white men care to shoot many of them 

 for mere sport, even should the government per- 

 mit it. 



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