176 Anecdotal Natural History. 



kind, had found its way up the great stairs of the 

 hotel, through the hall, and so into the wine-cellar. 



Much of the interest excited by Jumbo is due to 

 his enormous size. 



We read in many books of travel that elephants 

 are found from twelve to sixteen feet in height, 

 while some writers have even ventured upon twenty 

 feet. 



Now an elephant of that height would be so 

 enormous that the tallest giraffe ever known would 

 need almost an additional yard of height in order 

 to look over the elephant's shoulder. 



In India, the elephants used for riding are on an 

 average about eight feet in height, and may be com- 

 pared to men of five feet six inches. Many are little 

 more than six feet high, while an elephant of nine 

 feet is considered a large one, and a nine or ten feet 

 animal is about equivalent to a man of six feet two 

 inches. Any animal that passes ten feet takes rank 

 among giants. Every inch added to the height 

 causes a proportionate increase of bulk, so that when 

 Jumbo stands by the side of one of the Indian 

 elephants, he looks like a dray horse compared to a 

 Shetland pony. 



Figures alone give but a poor idea of bulk. 



In order to realize the gigantic dimensions of 

 Jumbo, measure eleven feet in height on the side of 

 a room, and then measure fourteen feet lengthwise ; 

 then picture to yourself an elephant of that height 

 and length, and you will form some idea of the pro- 

 portions of Jumbo. Perhaps even those proportions 

 may be exceeded in time. He is yet but a lad, 

 according to the duration of elephant life, and if he 

 were to attain another six or seven inches in height, and 

 gain another ton in weight, I should not be surprised. 



For years jumbo was an inmate of the Zoological 



