144 Anecdotal Natural History. 



to a depth of three feet before they discover the liquid 

 treasure beneath.' 



WE will now devote our attention to a description of 

 the habits, etc., of each of the two species, taking tne 

 Asiatic animal first in succession. 



This elephant may be at once distinguished from its 

 African relative by the size and form of the ears, 

 those organs being in the Asiatic animal proportioned 

 to the dimensions of other parts of the body, whilst in 

 the African variety they are of very great comparative 

 size, almost meeting at the back of the head, and 

 hanging considerably below the neck. An African 

 hunter has been known to shelter himself under an 

 elephant's ear during a storm, and to emerge perfectly 

 dry when the storm had passed over. The head of 

 the former, also, is elongated, and the forehead 

 concave, while in the latter the very reverse is the 

 case. 



Another point of distinction, too, is found in the 

 molar teeth, the enamel upon the surface of those of 

 the Asiatic elephant being moulded into a number of 

 narrow bands, while in the African species it is formed 

 in a series of diamond-shaped folds. 



In the Asiatic species, too, the tusks are found only 

 in the males, and are not possessed by every member 

 of even that sex. When present, they are, generally 

 speaking, very much inferior both in size and quality to 

 those of the African animal. 



The Asiatic elephant is chiefly remarkable for its 

 services to man when trained to do his bidding. In 

 all work which necessitates the employment of great 

 strength united with intelligence, the value of the 

 animal is inestimable. In such operations, for in- 

 stance, as piling logs, laying dams, or even building 

 walls, elephants are largely employed, their enormous 



