QUADRUPEDS. 39 



days of Germanicus. His elephants were exhibited in the 

 arena, reposing on splendid couches adorned with the 

 richest tapestry. Tables of ivory and cedar-wood were 

 placed before them, and on these their viands were pre- 

 sented to them in vessels of silver and gold. They danced 

 to the sound of " flutes and soft recorders," or moved in mea- 

 sured and harmonious steps around the theatre, scattering 

 the freshest and the choicest flowers around them. Arrian 

 mentions an elephant which played on cymbals, one being 

 fastened to each knee, and another held in his proboscis, 

 while his unwieldly companions danced in a circle, keeping 

 time with the greatest exactness. 



So many contradictory accounts have been given of the 

 size of the adult elephant, that we find some difliculty in 

 stating its true dimensions in a few words. The African 

 are alleged to be superior in size to those of Asia. Major 

 Denham, while journeying to the Tchad, saw individuals 

 so enormous that he calculated their height to be sixteen 

 feet. These, however, he had no opportunity of measur- 

 ing ; but another, which was killed in his presence, was 

 found to be nine feet six inches from the foot to the hip- 

 bone, and three feet from the hip-bone to the back, — or 

 twelve feet six inches in all, — which is more than twice 

 the height of the taller races of the human species. When 

 we consider that, even in proportion to its height, the ele- 

 phant is an animal of enormous bulk, and of the most mas- 

 sive proportions, we may conceive what a load of flesh and 

 bone its rugous coat must have contained. Mr. Scott of 

 Sinton, whose authority is frequently quoted and deservedly 

 valued on such points, states, in relation to the Asiatic 

 species, that he never heard of more than a single instance 

 of the elephant much exceeding the height of ten feet. The 

 following are the proportions which he gives of a fine male 

 belonging to the Vizier of Oude : — 



Ft. In. 



From foot to foot over the shoulder, 22 lOJ 



From the top of the shoulder, perpendicular height, 10 6 



From the top of the head when set up, 12 2 



From the front of the face to the insertion of the tail, 15 11 



Nothing is more deceptive than the dimensions of an 

 animal which, obviously exceeding in size any thing that we 



