244 THE ELEPHANT. 



variably retreats to thick shady forests at sunrise, 

 whereas the African species often enjoy themselves 

 in the burning sun during the hottest hours of the 

 day, amongst plains of withered grass many miles 

 from a jungle. 



Again, the African elephant is a more decided 

 tree-feeder than the Indian, and the destruction 

 caused by these animals in a mimosa forest, as 

 will be shown hereafter, almost exceeds credence. 



The African species is also more active than the 

 Indian in its movements, and more capable of 

 enduring the fatigue of long marches, as proved by 

 the distance it at times travels in search of food. 



Of the two species, it is by far the most 

 dangerous, the forehead-shot, as I have shown, 

 being never to be depended on. The hunter must, 

 therefore, await the charge with the conviction that 

 the bullet will fail to kill. 



The skin of the African elephant is of a tawny 

 colour ; but, owing to the animal's constant habit 

 of wallowing in the mire, its hide is generally 

 so begrimed with dirt that its real hue is hardly 

 discernible. 



The average height of a full-grown male may be 

 taken at from eleven to twelve feet, which is about 

 a foot higher than the Indian ; but still larger are 

 occasionally killed. Indeed, if I remember right, 

 the late Sir Coruwallis Harris shot one in Abyssinia 

 that measured fourteen feet at the shoulder. 

 The female is considerably smaller then the male. 

 The weight of the animal seems never to have been 

 accurately ascertained ; but it must be from three 

 to four tons. 



