154 THE ELEPHANT. 



sometimes to make prisoners, and sometimes to obtain 

 ivory. In South Africa the latter is always the object 

 in view ; and for the reason that in India the elephant 

 is employed in war, in hunting, and in a variety of 

 works, whilst in Africa he is not so employed at the 

 present day ; besides, the species in this latter region is 

 much smaller and weaker than in the other. 



There are two species, the Indian and African. The 

 Indian elephant has a concave forehead, small tusks 

 and ears, teeth formed in serrated lamina, the number 

 of which rise to twenty-six ; five nails to the fore-feet, 

 and four to the hind-feet. It is found all over the con- 

 tinent, from the Indus to the Eastern sea, and in the 

 great islands of Southern Asia. 



The African elephant has a rather convex forehead, 

 large tusks, which attain eight feet in length; ears 

 so vast that they cover a large part of the shoulder. 

 The teeth are formed of ten laminae only ; four claws 

 to the fore-feet, and three to the hind-feet. It is found 

 from Senegal and the Niger to the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



The two species live in large herds in solitary forests. 

 One male conducts the herd. When danger menaces 

 them he takes the lead, the females and the young fol- 

 low. They never attack man or any animal ; but when 

 provoked, they defend themselves with intrepidity, and 

 their weight, their speed, and their tusks, make them 



