278 NATURAL HISTORY. 



of Sumatra and Ceylon to be a distinct species, and Schlegel has separated it from both the Indian 

 and African, and defined it as E. sumatrensis. It has been, however, shown by Dr. Falconer and 

 others, that although certain differences are to be noticed, they are not of sufficient value to create 

 a new species ; but they are still of sufficient importance to form a variety. 



In size, notwithstanding the differences of opinion to be found between certain writers on this 

 subject, some saying that the Indian and others that the African Elephant is the larger, it seems 

 perfectly clear that there cannot be much difference between the two species, and that the maximum 

 height is about eleven feet. 



The Indian Elephant (where the progress of civilisation has not interfered with it) is found over 

 the greater part of the forest lands of India, Ceylon, Burmah, Siam, Cochin-China, the Malay Peninsula, 

 and Sumatra ; but it is doubtful whether it is indigenous to any of the other islands of the Eastern 

 Archipelago. Unlike the African species, to a certain extent, it appears to have a partiality for cool- 

 ness and shade ; indeed, Sir J. Emerson Tennent says that " although found generally in warm and 

 sunny climates it is a mistake to suppose that the Elephant is partial either to heat or to light. In 

 Ceylon, the mountain tops, and not the sultry valleys, are its favourite resort. In Oovah, where the 

 elevated plains are often crisp with the morning frost, and on Pedura-talla-galla, at the height of 

 upwards of eight thousand feet, they are found in herds, whilst the hunter may search for them without 

 success in the hot jungles of the low country." 



In some parts of the country Elephants ai-e exceedingly destructive to crops of grain. And in 

 various parts of India, notwithstanding the care and trouble taken to watch the crops, they do much 

 injury. When the rice approaches maturity it is necessary to place watchers throughout the night in 

 places which they frequent. Stages are erected on posts twelve or fourteen feet high, and on one side 

 of the stage a small shed is made for the watchmen, two of whom always mount the same stage. One 

 feeds a fire kept constantly burning on the open part, while the other in his turn is allowed to sleep, 

 and when any Elephants come into the field, he is awakened and both join in shouting and making all 

 the noise they can with sticks and drums. 



The food of the Elephant appears to be considerably varied, and chosen by the animal with no 

 small amount of daintiness ; sweet-tasting fruits, seeds, and blossoms he has the greatest partiality 

 for, and in their selection much destruction is occasioned by a herd of these huge animals. 

 Tennent says that in Ceylon, where the food of the Elephant is most abundant, the animal never 

 appears to be in a hurry to eat ; but amuses himself with playing with the leaves, shaking the trees, 

 tearing the bark, and now and then pausing to eat, altogether taking the whole affair in a very 

 leisurely sort of way. He is especially fond of the fruit of the palmyra palm, and never fails to make 

 his appearance in the districts where these trees grow when the fruit begins to fall to the ground. 

 Although the amount of food consumed by Elephants in their wild state is very large, there is reason 

 to believe that many stories told of their extraordinary eating capabilities are much exaggerated. It 

 by no means follows that because an Elephant in a tame state will eat so much bread, turnips, hay, 

 &c., that it consumes the same quantity of its natural food in a wild state. The Elephants are believed 

 to drink nightly in very hot weather, but in cool weather only every third or fourth day, and for this 

 piirpose they travel long distances to their watering-places, even as far as ten or twenty miles, 

 refreshing themselves by a bath and a drink at the same time when they reach their destination. 



Various modes are used for catching Elephants ; but the usual practice is to drive them into 

 what is termed a keddah. The keddah is a large area surrounded by a broad ditch, and towards the 

 entrance is a similar construction to the main body, but smaller, acting as a sort of funnel, into which 

 the Elephants enter when driven from the jungle, and which assists in getting them into the keddah itself- 



On discovering a large herd of Elephants, a body of men, often numbering six or eight thousand, are 

 collected to surround them, carrying all sorts of instruments likely to create a noise, such as firearms, 

 drums, trumpets, &c., Elephants being exceedingly alarmed by any unusual noises. By this means 

 they are gradually driven into the keddah, sometimes from a distance of thirty or forty miles, which 

 frequently occupies some days. When the Elephants find themselves fairly entrapped, they become 

 violent and use their utmost endeavours to break down the barriers. 



Formerly, it was the practice to starve these captured Elephants into submission; now, however,, 

 by means of two tame ones, trained for the purpose, they can be captured without injury, one; by one, 



