The Elephant. 141 



In order to satisfy these demands, the bony plates 

 which form the skull are separated from one another, 

 and form a series of cells, each of which contains a 

 number of smaller chambers, bearing, in fact, a con- 

 siderable resemblance to a honeycomb. These cells are 

 filled with a thick oily fluid. 



In the midst of these cells lies the brain, which is 

 remarkably small in comparison to the size of the 

 animal, and is thus protected from the effects of the 

 various concussions it would inevitably receive during 

 the headlong rushes of its possessor. 



In like manner, too, this structure protects the 

 animal in a great measure from the bullets of the 

 hunter, for, unless they should happen to enter by the 

 eye, the ear, or the nostrils, the leaden missiles stand 

 but little chance of reaching the brain, burying them- 

 selves in the cellular mass, and doing comparatively 

 little damage. An elephant has been known to receive 

 between twenty and thirty large balls in the head alone 

 before finally succumbing to its wounds. 



It is, however, a somewhat curious fact that the 

 skulls of the African and the Asiatic elephant are not 

 formed exactly in the same manner, a'though the 

 curious cellular structure is found in both, so that a 

 bullet, which to the one would cause little injury, 

 would to the other be certain death. 



For example. If a hunter stands in front of an 

 Indian elephant, and sends a bullet into the spot 

 where the proboscis joins the head, the animal falls 

 dead without a struggle, the bullet having penetrated to 

 the brain. But if he were to attack an African 

 elephant in the same manner, the bullet would pass 

 above the brain, and waste itself in the cells of the 

 skull, only irritating, and not injuring the elephant. 



The limbs of the elephant, also, are admirably 

 adapted to sustain the immense Aveight of the animal. 



