118 THE AET OF.TRAIXIXG ANIMALS. 



surgical operations for the relief of ulcers, would indicate that 

 he comprehends in a measure the purpose of them. Obedience 

 to his keeper's orders is not in all cases proof of a perception of 

 the object to be attained by compliance. This is shown in the 

 touching incident which took place at the slaughter of the ele- 

 phant at Exeter, England, when after receiving fully one 

 hundred and twenty balls in various parts of his body, and these 

 proving iueflfectual to end his existence, he turned his face to 

 his assailants on hearing the voice of his keeper, and kneeled 

 down at the accustomed word of command, so as to bring his 

 forehead within view of the rifles. 



The afifection for his keeper is a great incentive to obedience 

 on the part of the elephant, but although this attachment is 

 often great, there is not that unwillingness to transfer his affec- 

 tion and obedience to a new keeper, which has been very fre- 

 quently asserted. If treated with equal kindness he will obey 

 readily and acquire an affection for a new attendant as soon as 

 he becomes familiar with his voice. He no doubt often remem- 

 bers an old friend and many of the anecdotes told of elephants 

 recognizing an old keeper from whom they have long been 

 parted, and being rejoiced thereat, are doubtless true. Founded 

 on very good authority is the story of an animal of particularly 

 stubborn disposition who, on the death of his keeper, refused to 

 obey any other, until some attendants bethought them of a boy 

 some twelve years old in a distant village where the elephant 

 had been formerly picketed, and to whom it had displayed con- 

 siderable attachment. The child was sent for, and on his arrival 

 was immediately recognized with many manifestations of pleasure 

 and to him the elephant yielded obedience, until by degrees he 

 became reconciled to a new keeper. 



HOW "hunting elephants" aee tkained. 



Probably all readers are familiar with the fact that, in their 

 native countries, elephants are not only used to aid in the cap- 

 ture of their own species, but also in the pursuit of various wild 

 beasts of the jungle. In tiger hunting especially is this the 

 case, and this sport furnishes one of the chief and most exciting 

 amusements of the English troops in India. In this sport the 

 elephant is rather an unwilling participant. In his wild state 

 there is no occasion for any conflict between himself and other 

 dwellers of the forest. Living entirely on vegetable food, and 

 so under no necessit^^ of preying upon other animals ; too 

 peaceful to molest others, and too powerful to be molested by 

 them, in a state of nature each seems anxious to avoid rather 

 than to provoke any encounter. Should a tiger and an elephant 



