122 MAMMALIA-ORDER VL UNCULATA. 



No. 1 or No. 2 just as they liked, and they invariably sucked the same 

 elephant at the same time ; then they used to go off and suck the other two 

 that had not calved then. These six elephants have now been in the Forest 

 Department for at least six years to my knowledge, and how long they were 

 in it before I don't know. It shows how absurd it is people in India saying 

 elephants will not breed in captivity ; here, in Burma, our elephants are 

 always fettered and turned out into the forest to graze, and elephants in 

 better condition it would be hard to find ; our elephants get no flour, paddy, 

 or any other kind of rations, and no tree-fodder. After the day's work is 

 done, they are hobbled and turned out to feed themselves ; when they are 

 not wanted, they remain out in the jungle, the mahout going and seeing them 

 once or twice a day. In this way they can eat just what they like." The 

 teats of the female elephant are placed between the hind legs ; and the young 

 calf sucks with its mouth, and not with its trunk. 



There are many methods by which elephants are captured, among which 

 the following, as detailed in The Asian newspaper, may be selected for notice : 

 u Elephant-capturing operations by the pit-fall systems were set in work- 

 ing order in the locality of the forest station at Mount Stuart on the Anaimalai 

 Hills in the season of 1890. For the past five years, during each of the 

 working seasons which commence in June and end in December, elephant- 

 captures have been attempted. Places were selected in the known runs of 

 the elephants, and the pits were dug in groups of three. To commence with, 

 about 21 pits were dug in different parts, all, however, being within 

 a two-mile radius of the Mount Stuart forest station. Since 1890, some 

 20 pits more have been dug out. The dimensions of the original pits 

 were 12 feet by 9 feet, with a depth of 10 feet. These are too large, and a 

 pit 10 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet is amply big enough. The sides of the 

 pits were made vertical and not sloping downwards, as are the pits in Malabar; 

 and some 2 or 3 feet of brushwood was placed in the bottom of each to act 

 as bedding to break the fall of the animal. The pits were then covered by 

 means of bamboos placed across them, and on these were spread grass, leaves, 

 etc. The pits are visited every morning by a forest-guard or watcher deputed 

 for the purpose, and these report to their superior officers whenever a fall 

 takes place. During the first year, one animal, to which the name of Juno 

 was given, was captured. This subsequently died. In the second year, 1891, 

 four animals were captured, two of which subsequently died, and two of 

 which are now living. In the third year, 1892, two extraordinary falls took 

 place by which seven animals were captured in five pits. Out of these seven 

 animals, four are still living. During 1893 two animals were captured, and 

 during the present year, 1894, four animals have been caught, all of which 

 fire living. Out of a total of 17 captures, 12 are now living. It may be re- 

 marked, moreover, that the casualties took place amongst the first three 

 years' captures, when the attendants, who are local hillmen, called Mulcers, 

 were entirely inexperienced concerning elephants. During the last two years 

 the bed of brushwood has been increased considerably so as to reach to with- 

 in 4 feet of the top of the pit. The results speak for themselves : not a 

 single animal has since been injured in the fall, although two of the latest 

 captures are the largest animals caught since operations were commenced. 

 The removal of a capture to the kraals, which are within two or three miles 

 from the pits, is a very simple matter, provided everything is in readiness 

 beforehand. The size of the animal's neck is estimated, and a peg is put in 

 the rope so as to prevent the noose going smaller than the neck-size as 



