BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 95 



sensation, a cannon ball should come in contact with 

 the forehead of the elephant. 



Every one, or at least most persons, have heard 

 of the cruel and lengthened sufferings of the poor 

 elephant that was, by a succession of musket balls, 

 at last killed in her den in the menagerie ; now, 

 could it have been done, one twenty pounder from 

 a piece of ordnance would probably have destroyed 

 her as quickly as a bullet does the dog. It is well 

 known, that a thrust with a small dagger scientifi- 

 cally made behind the horns of the bullock will 

 bring him down*, indeed kill him much sooner than 

 the pole-axe in daily use — in fact, the Mahoots can 

 destroy an elephant almost instantaneously by such 

 means ; why it is not used instead of the pole-axe 

 with which sometimes several strokes are given 

 before the beast is stunned, I know not ; most proba- 

 bly because though many like beef, few ever trouble 

 their heads about the most merciful way of killing 

 the ox. 



In fishing, as regards the fish hooked, I really be- 

 lieve that so far from suffering much pain from the 



