160 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



elephants, or they may be almost as large as himselt. A 

 fair tusker will have tusks about 4olb. each, though many 

 grow bigger tusks. 



A yo-pounder is an exceptionally good one, and I have 

 not heard of any elephant being shot in this country with 

 tusks over i2olb. each. In Nyasaland, where elephants are 

 numerous in parts of Central and Northern Angoniland, 

 the biggest I have heard of was a 95-pounder, but I have 

 little doubt that a loo-pounder is wandering about 

 somewhere in this country. The heaviest tusk known 

 is one weighing 235^3., length loft. 4in., and 26in. in 

 circumference. 



The longest measures lift. 5iin., with a circumference 

 of iSJin. 



The largest tusker known to have been shot by a white 

 man was one killed by Major Powell Cotton in the Congo 

 Free State, and the two tusks weighed 372lb., the larger 

 tusk weighing igSlb., with a circumference of 25in., and 

 git. long. 



That well-known elephant hunter, the late Arthur H. 

 Neumann, never killed an elephant with bigger tusks than 

 i2olb., although he shot many over loolb. Selous hunted 

 elephants in Southern Africa, where big tusks were scarce 

 in his time, and his largest, I believe, was between yolb. 

 and 8olb. 



Sir Alfred Sharpe, who has killed more elephants in 

 Nyasaland than anyone else, never got an 8o-pounder, so 

 such large tuskers may be considered very scarce in that 

 country. 



Certainly a pair of elephant tusks, if long and sharp 

 pointed, are very nice trophies, and I may say the tail is a 

 good trophy as well as the feet. The big front feet make 

 nice receptacles for vases, etc., and the back feet, if cut long, 

 make useful stick or umbrella stands. 



The molars take a fine polish, and can be made into 

 various articles such as paper weights. The best taxidermists 

 make very pretty trophies out of feet and skin, though the 

 latter is very apt to warp in changeable climates. 



