THE ELEPHANT AT HOME 245 



and of smell are extremely acute. When 

 approached in cover and still unconscious of 

 man's presence, their proximity is often betrayed 

 by dull rumbling noises or perhaps by the 

 rustling of branches as they are gathered by 

 the trunk. Or attention may first be attracted 

 by the flapping of the great ears as they fan 

 themselves. Placid and sleepy as they may 

 seem in such a case, a furious and charging 

 elephant is the very incarnation of savage rage. 

 The trunk and tail erect, the great ears cocked 

 and extended bat-like, the little bloodshot eyes 

 flashing with fury, and the ear-rending scream 

 of his ' trumpeting ' form altogether a nerve- 

 shaking spectacle ; few who have experienced 

 it at close quarters will greatly desire to have it 

 repeated. 



The popular notion that the elephant is a 

 gentle, placid and inoffensive animal is by no 

 means correct. When roused, they are savage 

 and wary and pertinacious to a degree in follow- 

 ing up anyone who incurs their wrath. This is 

 particularly the case with the solitary old bull, 

 the so-called ' rogue.' An elephant, which for 

 some reason or other has elected to lead a soli- 

 tary existence, establishes himself in a favourite 

 haunt, and there may exercise for years a reign 

 of terror ; the undoubted intelligence of the animal 



