20 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. I. 



approach of the keeper is not only greatly facilitated, 

 but an opportunity is given of affixing to the hind legs 

 of the saun a pair of wooden clasps, armed inside with 

 spikes : these are joined to a strong rope, which is 

 passed round the tree and made completely fast (fig. 5.). 



During all this process, the conduct of the females is pe- 

 culiarly artful. They not only exert themselves, with as- 

 tonishing address, to divert the attention of their intended 

 victim, and to cut off his view, downwards, by means 

 of their trunks, but they even aid in effecting the 

 ligatures therewith, sometimes passing the rope, when 

 the keepers might either be exposed to danger, or unable 

 to reach it. It may be observed, that the spikes within 

 the clasps above mentioned are so small, as only to 

 inflict pain when the animal, finding himself captured, 

 struggles violently to free himself from these shackles. 



(30.) " Notwithstanding all these precautions, how- 

 ever, it sometimes happens that the enamoured male 

 in some way discovers the presence of the keeper ; in 

 which case not even the caresses of his agreeable com- 

 panions can control his violence. This is a severe trial 

 on the fortitude and fidelity of the females, who have 

 been known to expose themselves to the saun's utmost 

 fury, while attempting to aid the escape of their keep- 

 ers. If all goes well, however, so soon as the saun is 

 secured, the whole party commence a retreat ; since no- 



