FILIAL AFFECTION. 270 



If, therefore, the above measurements are applied 

 to the general growth of the elephant, due allowance 

 must be made for irregularity in the growth of the 

 female during pregnancy. 



It has been said that the female elephant shows 

 much tenderness for her progeny; and it must be 

 admitted there are many instances on record tend- 

 ing to show that this is the case. I, for my part, 

 however, cannot confirm the statement, as my own 

 small experiences tend rather the other way. On a 

 certain occasion, indeed, I remember that one of 

 my native servants stabbed a calf to death in 

 the presence of the mother, and though the poor 

 creature cried most piteously, the dam allowed her- 

 self to be driven off by two or three cowardly dogs. 



My friend, Frederick Green, would seem to be 

 pretty much of the same way of thinking as myself in 

 regard to this matter. " The female elephant," he 

 writes me, " does not appear to have that affection 

 for her offspring which one would be led to suppose. 

 It is a common occurrence to find calves in pit-falls, 

 whom the mothers, had they been so minded, might 

 easily have liberated. To judge from the appear- 

 ance of the surrounding ground, indeed, they would 

 not appear even to have attempted to rescue them." 



But whether or not the mother evinces special 

 regard for her offspring, certain it is that the latter 

 is tenderly fond of its dam. Captain Harris relates 

 a very touching instance to this effect. 



" Not an elephant," says this enthusiastic sports- 

 man, " was to be seen on the ground that was yes- 

 terday teeming with them; but, on reaching the 



