794 



REVIEW OF REVIEWS. 



October 1, 1913. 



knocking a man down an elephant will 



ntinue on its course without stopping 



to learn how much damage it has done. 



though, after an elephant 1ms 



knocked a man down, it kneels on him, or 



roping bo its knees, probes him with its 



tusks. Mr. Carl A.keley, who has visited 



Africa several times in the interests of 

 various American museums, was nearly killed 

 by an elephant in this manner. Ihs elephant 

 charged at close range, knocked him down, 

 and, kneeling, attempted to gore him. He 

 in;, ,> grab the tusks in time to swing 



his body between them before they descended, 

 and they passed harmlessly on each side. 

 The curled trunk, however, crushed his 

 chest, and broke several ribs. "When he re- 

 gained consciousness, the elephant had gone, 

 and his hoys had deserted him. The boys 

 finally returned and carried him to camp, 

 and it was several months before he fully 

 recovered. 



SO-CALLED SPORT. 



From these remarks it must not be taken 

 for granted that elephants always charge. 

 On scenting danger from afar, they usually 

 depart. It is when surprised at close quar- 

 ters that they seem to lose their heads and 

 rush about, probably trying to locate the 

 trouble in order to avoid it. Trumpeting, 

 bellowing, and squealing, they tear first one 

 way then another, and should they catch 

 sight of the hunter they are liable to charge 

 him. Failing to find him, they huddle to- 



ther and the whole herd departs. After 

 ./no such experience it is only men with iron 

 nerve that care to continue the so-called 

 sport. 



As long as an elephant's trunk is 

 down there is little danger, but when 

 you see the U-shaped curve of the pro- 

 boscis waving in the air over the ele- 

 phant grass look out for trouble. The 

 huge beasts are very short-sighted, do 

 not appear to be able to see 50 yards, 

 and rely almost entirely upon their 

 scent to warn them of danger. 



Little is known of the breeding habits 

 of elephants, or the manner of caring 

 for their young. Cases are known where 

 1 he mother elephant has apparently car- 

 ried her baby in her trunk or resting on 

 her tusks, with her trunk holding it in 

 position. 



\\ e were astonished to find elephants 

 roaming over the rocky ridges, and the steep 

 sides of ravines, and it was really remark- 

 able what rough country they sometimes in- 

 habited. I was once searching about a steep, 

 rocky, timber-covered pinnacle at the lower 

 edge of the heather belt for a good place 

 10 set my mouse traps. In scrambling 

 through the moss-covered boulders I found 

 elephant tracks common, and after some diffi- 

 culty reached the summit, to discover that 

 a herd of elephants had preceded me. Ele- 

 phants can climb up the side of a mountain 

 so steep that the hunter, even by using the 

 shrubbery to aid him, has difficulty in fol- 

 lowing. 



ATTENDANT COW HERONS. 



Large flocks of white " cow herons " 

 usually keep the herds company, and 

 feed on the hordes of insects that the 

 animals attract. The birds ride on the 

 backs of the beasts, and fly to the 

 ground to feed in the grass and back 

 to their perches when the herd moves 

 on. 



When in the open country, the elephants 

 spread out and walk abreast, but as soon 

 as a thicket was reached, they dropped be- 

 hind each other, and followed single file. 

 They were constantly tossing dirt and tus- 

 socks of grass on and over their backs, 

 fanning themselves with their immense ears, 

 and at intervals extending them on each 

 side, which, through the field glasses, pre- 

 sented a most hideous appearance. As usual, 

 a large flock of cow herons accompanied 

 them, and when these birds lit on the back 

 of an animal, they gave it the appearance 

 of being a white-backed elephant. 



A SUBSTITUTE FOR TEA. 



All races of mankind discover at some 

 period of their development the agree- 

 able qualities of nerve-excitants, these 

 falling usually in the two classes of the 

 alcohols and the alkaloids. But the 

 later experience of each race demon- 

 strates the dangers involved in indul- 

 gence in alcoholic drinks and even in the 

 immoderate imbibing of such beverages 

 as coffee and tea. 



The third step of progress is twofold, 

 consisting of zealous temperance pro- 

 inda on the one hand, and on the 

 other of efforts to pluck the sting from 

 the dear familiar table companions that 

 have been loved not wisely but too well. 



Dr. Viktor Grafe, of the University of 

 Vienna, writes on this subject in Pro- 

 metheus (Vienna), with special reference 

 to preparations of the South American 



