CHAP. XVIII.] POWERS OF HIGHER BRUTES. 819 



that individuals, and ultimately the race, should benefit 

 much therefrom in the way of increased sagacity. The 

 importance of this point will be best appreciated by those 

 who know the differences in point of Sagacity between the 

 generality of young dogs and those that have lived on to 

 their full term of active life. For, if so much difference in 

 this respect arises with the Dog in the course of eight or 

 ten years, we may naturally look for notably greater 

 effects of the same kind during a life at least ten times 

 as long as that of the Dog. 



On the other hand, it must not be forgotten that the 

 Elephant never breeds in captivity, and therefore never, 

 like the Dog, bequeaths to succeeding generations any of 

 those higher developments of its faculties and powers which 

 may have resulted from its intercourse with, and education 

 by, human associates. The individual Elephant, there- 

 fore, can be educated by man, but the race must have its 

 faculties sharpened in the wider school presented by the 

 sum- total of their own natural surroundings. 



When once tamed, the Elephant becomes, as Buffon 

 says, the most tractable and submissive of all animals : 



" He is affectionate to his keeper, caresses him and does what- 

 ever he can to please him. In a little time he understands 

 signs, and even the expression of sounds; he distinguishes the tone 

 of command, that of anger or goodnature, and acts accordingly. 

 He never mistakes the words, of his master; he receives his orders 

 with attention, and executes them with prudence and eagerness." 



The intelligence and sagacity which the Elephant is 

 11 known to display, in aid of his keepers, in capturing 

 sauns or solitary males in the wild state, as quoted by 

 Swainson,* is so surprising as to be almost incredible, 

 were it not that the facts are notoriously well attested. 

 The account is too long to be here quoted. 



* "Habits and Instincts of Animals," p. 24. 







Oftr, 



