YOL. LXXXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 433 



have been able to observe, any particular seasons of love, like horses and cattle. Of 

 5 instances of elephants covered at Tiperah, one received the male in Feb., another 

 in April, a 3d in June, a 4th in Sept., and the 5th in Oct. Eesides these, an at- 

 tempt was made by a tame male, to cover, in the month of Jan. a wild female, 

 then in heat*. When the female is in heat, the parts of generation show it, by 

 an unusual fulness of the labia; and if she is placed near a male, she endeavours by 

 caresses to excite his desires -j-. 



After the female had been covered by the male, as has been just related, there 

 being then no other female ready, he was placed with an elephant which had had a 

 young one about 4 years before this, and some months ago was reported to have 

 been put in heat. It was thought, after some trial, that she was likely to permit 

 him to cover, as she caressed him occasionally, and roused his passions; but she 

 would not allow him to gratify his desire. The drivers, tired of this coyness, and 

 stimulated perhaps by the hopes of another gratuity, were so brutal as to tie her, 

 and let the male make an attempt upon her, while tied. His attempt however 

 was to no purpose; though he continued his efforts till he appeared to be quite 

 exhausted. This being told me, I severely reprimanded the people; and ordered 

 the female to be left at full liberty to reject or receive the male, as she might think 

 proper. Here however was positive proof, that the male would have effected his 

 purpose by force, when he found he could not obtain it in any other way. He re- 

 mained at Comillah till Oct. 1793, without my being able to procure a female that 

 was in heat; he was then sent to Calcutta. 



I now became extremely solicitous about the health of the female which was 

 covered in June; and gave particular directions not to overheat her, but merely to 

 give her as much food and exercise as were likely to keep her in the best condition, 

 as she was now known to be pregnant. In 3 months after she was covered, she 

 became fuller, her flesh softer, and her breasts began to swell. These marks of 

 her being with young were so evident to the driver, that he mentioned them of 

 his own accord; which convinced me that an elephant, 3 months after conception, 

 may be known by the keepers to be pregnant. She had always been a favourite, 

 from having been the gift of my worthy and respected friend Mr. John Buller^, 

 as well as for her gentle and docile disposition; and now I had hopes of her going 

 her full time. She was 7 feet 3 inches high, when covered; but after this increased 

 so fast, not in bulk only, but also in height, as to exceed 7 feet 8 inches, before 

 she brought forth. On the 1 6th of March, 1795, she produced a fine male; just 



* Many pregnant females are taken every year at Tiperah, and produce young ones in the different 

 months : this clearly shows that there are no particular seasons during which the females are in heat. — 

 f It may be proper to observe, that the penis of a full grown elephant is from 2 feet 4 to 2 feet 6* inches 

 in length, and from 14 to 1 6 inches in circumference. I caused the penis of 2 males to be measured, 

 after their passions were excited, in order to ascertain the real size. On some occasions, I have seen the 

 penis absolutely touch the ground, when the elephant has been walking} but it must be recollected, that 



the hind legs of an elephant are very short, in proportion to his size. % Now one of the Members 



of the Board of Revenue, at Calcutta, — Orig. 



