DOMESTICATED MAMMALS AND THEIR USES 



243 



as these are generally slaves which can be sold at the termina- 

 tion of the journey, they might be more profitable than the 

 legitimate transport by an elephant." Sir Harry Johnston, while 

 in favour of experiments in this matter, thus expresses his fore- 

 bodings as to the result: "The question of its domestication and 

 usefulness to man is a very doubtful one. It is relatively easy to 

 obtain young African elephants, and to tame them in a few days 

 or a few weeks. It is also easy to train them to bear burdens 

 on their backs or to perform other simple tasks, but it cannot be 



Fig. 1176. An Indian Elephant (Elephas Indicus) lifting Timber 



said as they grow up that they evince the same docility that is 

 characteristic of the Indian elephant, while after the males have 

 reached maturity they are positively dangerous. Something might 

 be done with the adult female African elephant." (Nature, 1904.) 

 THE RABBIT (LEPUS CUNICULUS) AND HARE (L. TIMIDUS). 

 The various breeds of Rabbit which are domesticated in Europe 

 are all descended from the common wild form, which was origi- 

 nally restricted to the countries bordering the Western Mediter- 

 ranean, and the islands of the same region. Some of the races, 

 especially Chinchillas and Angoras, are valued on account of 

 their fur, the flesh being also utilized (fig. 1177). In this country 

 they are chiefly kept as pets, and for show purposes. 



