4.70 



■nsroKY OF 



breed of elephants, like that of other animals, hrtve been at /ast 

 content to separate the males from the females, to prevent those 

 accesses of desire, which debilitated without multiplying the 

 species. In order to take them wild in the woods, a spot of 



ejf the elephant, at least all those I have seen, begin to nibble and suck the 

 breast soon after birth, pressing it with the trunk, which by natural instinct 

 they know will make the m Ik flow more readily into the mouth, while 

 sucking-. Elephants never lie down to give their young ones suck ; and it 

 often happens, when the dam is tall, that she is obliged for some time to 

 bend her body towards her young, to enable him to reach the nipple witli 

 his mouth : consequently, if ever the trunk was used to lay hold of the nip. 

 pie it would be at tliis period, when lie is making laborious efforts to reach 

 it with liis mouth, but which he could always easily do with his trunk, if it 

 answered the purpose. In sucking, the young elephant always grasps the 

 nipple, which projects horizontally from the breast, with the side of his 

 mouth. I have very often observed tliis ; and so sensible are the attendants 

 of it, that with them it is a common practice to raise a small mound of earth, 

 about si.x or eight inches high, for the young one to stand on, and thus save 

 the mother the trouble of bending her body every time she gives suck, which 

 she cannot readily do Avhen tied to her picket." M. Foucher d'Obsonville, 

 w)io had ;ilso observed the young elephant playing with the teat of the mo- 

 ther with his truuk, attributes the prevalent error to tliis circumstance. M. 

 Williamson says, that the position of the two breasts of the female enables 

 the young one (technically called a calf) to suck as it runs along by the side 

 of the mother, or even under her belly. 



The affecHoii of the female tdephantforhcr young has been denied by some 

 writers. Mr Williamson, however, gives an anecdote which contradicts 

 this opinion. He says, " a female elephant will trust her young with great 

 confidence among the human species, but is very jealous of all brutes. If, 

 liowever, tliey suspect any trick, or perceive any danger, they become un. 

 go^'emable. I recollect being one of many who were seated at the top of a 

 flight of stone steps at the entrance into the Great House at Secrole, and had 

 enticed the calf of a very fine, good-tempered elephant feeding below to as- 

 oeiid towards us. When slie had nearly got up the steps her foot slipped, 

 and she was in danger of falling ; which being perceived by the mother, she 

 darted to save the ra.nibler, sending forth a most terrific roar, and witli such 

 a significant eye as made us all tremble. She guided the descent of her little 

 one with ^vondcrful caution, none of us feeling the least disposition to offer 

 any aid on the occasion." Captain Knox, who was detained for twenty 

 years a captive in Ceylon, says, " As the Chingalays report, they bear the 

 greatest love to their young of all irrational creatures ; for the shes are alike 

 tender of any one's young ones as of their own. Where there are many she- 

 elephants together, the young ones go and suck of any, as well as of their 

 mothers : and if a young one be in distress, and should cry out, they will all 

 in general run to the help and aid thereof; and if they be going over a river, 

 as here be some somewhat broad, and the streams run very swift, tbey will 

 all with their trunks assist and help to convey the young ones over." 



During rutting time, which occurs in the spring, the elephants often be- 

 come extremely violent; audit is believed, that Hi that period the larger 



