ANIMALS. 461 



Their chief food is of the vegetable kind, for they loathe all 

 kind of animal diet. When one among their number happens 

 to light upon a spot of good pasture, he calls the rest, and in- 

 vites them to share in the entertainment ; but it must be very 

 copious pasture indeed that can supply the necessities of the 

 whole band. As with their broad and heavy feet they sink deep 

 wherever they go, they destroy much more than they devour ; 

 so that they are frequently obliged to change their quarters, and 

 to migrate from one country to another. The Indians and 

 negroes, who are often incommoded by such visitants, do all they 

 can to keep them away, making loud noises, and large fires round 

 their cultivated grounds : but these precautions do not always 

 succeed ; the elephants often break through their fences, destroy 

 their whole harvest, and overturn their little habitations. When 

 they have satisfied themselves, and trod down or devoured what 

 ever lay in their way, they then retreat into the woods in the 

 same orderly manner in which they made their irruption. 



Such are the habits of this animal, considered in a social light ; 

 and if we regard it as an individual, we shall find its powers still 

 more extraordinary. With a very awkward appearance, it pos- 

 sesses all the senses in great perfection, and is capable of apply- 

 ing them to more useful purposes than any other quadruped. 

 The elephant, as we observed, has very small eyes, when com- 

 pared to the enormous bulk of its body. But though their mi- 

 nuteness may at first sight appear deformed, yet, when we come 

 to examine them, they are seen to exhibit a variety of expression, 

 and to discover the various sensations with which it is moved. 

 It turns them with attention and friendship to its master ; it 

 seems to reflect and deliberate ; and as its passions slowly suc- 

 ceed each other, their various workings are distinctly seen. 



The elephant is not less remarkable for the excellence of its 

 hearing. Its ears are extremely large, and greater in proportion 

 than even those of an ass. They are usually dependent ; but it ' 

 can readily raise and move them. They servo also to wipe its 

 eyes, and to protect them against the dust and flies that might 

 otherwise incommode them. It appears delighted with music, 

 and very readily learns to beat time, to move in measure, and 

 even to join its voice to the sound of the drum and the trumpet. 



This animal's sense of smelling is not only exquisite, but it is 

 in a great measure pleased with the same odours that delight 



2y.S 



