Appendix 289 



in front, or else a male ; the other males are in the rear. 

 Upon stopping, the males are very often in the middle, 

 surrounded on all sides by females. When they spread out, 

 on the other hand, there is no fixed rule ; it is a case of 

 every one for himself, and that is what causes the death of 

 more than one elephant, for they are then an easy mark for 

 the sportsman's rifle. 



Eeaching the edge of a pool or a river in the daytime, 

 or during the hot nights, they begin drinking thirstily ; then 

 they enter the water and squirt themselves all over. Often 

 they imprudently utter cries of delight, which warn the 

 hunter of their presence. When there is any mud they 

 cover themselves with it, let it dry, and then rub themselves 

 against trees to remove the large ticks and other parasites 

 which stick to their thick skins. Often, also, they swallow 

 mud or earth, 1 with the object, doubtless, of purging them- 

 selves ; or else it is to remove the short, large worms which 

 are to be found in considerable quantities in their intestines. 2 



Elephants make various noises. I have already de- 

 scribed that indicating anger ; it is a shrill trumpet like a 

 steam sirbne. The animal makes it, I believe, with its trunk. 3 

 It utters deep, savage grunts with its throat when wounded 

 and suffering ; but low grunts, similar to those of a large 

 pig, when it appears to wish to communicate with its com- 

 panions, 4 or when it meditates a charge. In that case it 

 first of all grunts in a low tone, then violently, and finally 

 blows the " trumpet-blast " at the moment it dashes on the 

 enemy. The low, deep noise which natives attribute to the 



1 Especially when it contains saline elements, potash, rock-salt, 

 nitrate of potash, etc. 



2 The same worms are found in the stomach of the zebra, and in 

 the cervical chamber of the hartebeest. They are larvse which must 

 have been swallowed with water. 



3 It makes similar noises at night when bathing. 



4 I suppose that elephants must exchange sentiments by means of 

 grunts ; but I have never been able to get near enough to them to 

 know exactly. 



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