NECESSITY FOR SYSTEMATIC CHECK BY CAPTURE. 69 



amined the elephant-catching records of the past forty-five years in Bengal, 

 and the present rate of capture attests the fact that there is no diminution 

 in tlie numbers now obtainable ; whilst in Southern India elephants have 

 become so numerous of late years that the rifle will have to be again called 

 into requisition to protect the ryots from their depredations, unless more 

 systematic measures for their capture and utilisation than are at present in 

 vogue be maintained. It cannot but be a matter of hearty congratulation 

 to all interested in so fine and harmless an animal that there is no chance 

 of the sad fate that is pursuing his African congener, and leading to his 

 rapid extinction, affecting the Asiatic elephant. 



