THE ELEPHANTS. 105 



where a more gorgeous and efficient shade is 

 afforded, and they can enjoy the luxury of a cold 

 bath, and wallow covered at once from the 

 influence of the sun, and the torment of insects. 

 Here the herd, guided by some monstrous male, 

 long standing in years, spends the forenoon heats, 

 at evening or morning venturing to the out- 

 skirts or open glades, to feed on the tender foliage, 

 which they can reach, and are able to pluck from 

 a great height by means of their trunks or pro- 

 bosces. They are particularly fond of those of a 

 saccharine quality, whence they often enter and do 

 prodigious damage in the plantations of the sugar 

 cane. They are easily alarmed, and retreat to 

 cover upon the alarm being given by their leader ; 

 but when attacked or wounded, they turn upon 

 their assailant with the utmost fury, and unless 

 he has previously prepared a way of escape, 

 seldom fail in wreaking their vengeance, and 

 satisfying their revenge, by mangling and tramp- 

 ling the body long after life has been extinct. 



Two species of Elephants now existing have 

 been described; the one inhabiting the Asiatic 

 continent, the other the African. The principal 

 external distinction is the immense size of the 

 ears in the last, compared with those of the Indian 

 animal, as we have endeavoured to represent on 

 t)ur plates. We shall now describe and illustrate 

 {he species separately ; and first, 



