ELEPHANTS. 99 



open a lock, and even write with a pen. The eyes are small, 

 and the pupil round ; the ears are wide and lie close against the 

 head, but quite moveable ; the parietes of the cranium contain 

 great vacuities which augment the size of the head, and render 

 the front projecting ; the skin is thick, hard, and wrinkled, and 

 almost without hair ; the tail is small. These animals have sharp 

 sight ; their hearing is quick, their sense of smell delicate, their 

 intelligence developed, their perception ready, their prudence ex- 

 treme : they remember kindness as well as harshness Their gait 

 is heavy, but the length of their steps gives rapidity to their march. 



19. Although the Elephant is the most vigorous and most power- 

 ful of quadrupeds, in a state of nature he is neither cruel nor 

 formidable. Peaceful as he is brave, he never abuses his power, 

 or exerts his strength, except in his own defence ; he is rarely 

 seen alone in the desert. The herds usually consist of from forty 

 to one hundred Elephants. The oldest marches at the head of the 

 troop, and the next in age watches the rear. 



20. It has been said, the Elephant never lies down ; but this is 

 an error ; he lies on his side, and sleeps profoundly. 



21. Elephants are tamed when taken young; they may be 

 employed for the purpose of transport. They carry about two 

 thousand pounds weight, and will travel without being very much 

 fatigued, a distance of from fifteen to twenty leagues. These ani- 

 mals swim well ; they live to the age of nearly two hundred years, 



22. Two species of Elephants are known: 1st. The Indian or 

 Asiatic Elephant, Ekphas Indicus, has an oblong head, con- 

 cave front, ears of middling size, and four nails on the hind feet. 

 (Plate 5. fig. 1.) It is met with in all the warm parts of India, 

 where the natives pursue, take, tame, and employ it as a beast of 

 burthen and draught. Its tusks often remain very short. 



23. 2d. The African Elephant, Elephas JJfricanus, 

 ( Plate 5, fig. 2 ) has a round head, a convex front ; the ears are 

 large, and there are but three nails on the hind feet. It inhabits 

 Africa from Senegal to the Cape of Good Hope. It is more fierce 

 than that of India, and its tusks are much longer ; the female has 

 them as long as the male. They have not yet succeeded in 

 taming this species. 



19. Is the Elephant solitary in his habits ? 



20. How does the Elephant sleep ? 



21. What weight can an Elephant carry? To what age do Elephants 

 live? 



22. How many species of Elephants are known ? What are the charac- 

 ters of the Indian Elephant 'f 



23. What are the characters of the African Elephant ? Has this species 

 been tamed ? 



9* 



