53 6 UNGULATES. 



rapidly the soil becomes broken down under their weight so as to form a regular 

 sloping road. 



The Indian elephant, under different circumstances, gives vent 

 to a variety of sounds, some of which are produced in the trunk, 

 while others originate in the throat. Of these utterances, the first, writes Mr. 

 Blanford, is " the shrill trumpet, varying in tone, and expressive, sometimes of 

 fear, sometimes of anger. Secondly, a roar from the throat caused by fear or pain. 

 A peculiar hoarse rumbling in the throat may express anger or want, as when 

 a calf is calling for its mother. Pleasure is indicated by a continued low squeaking- 

 through the trunk. Lastly, there is a peculiar metallic sound made by rapping 

 the end of the trunk on the ground and blowing through it at the same time. 

 This indicates alarm or dislike, and is the well-known indication of a tiger's 

 presence." 



The intelligence of the animal having been already sufficiently 



Sgiisgs 



discussed, all that need be said about its senses is that while smell 

 is strongly developed, both sight and hearing appear to be by no means acute. 



At most seasons of the year the Indian elephant is a timid 



animal, much more ready to flee from a foe than to make an attack. 

 Solitary " rogues " are, however, f requently an exception to this rule, and some- 

 times make unprovoked attacks on passers-by. Indeed, there are instances on 

 record where a " rogue " elephant has taken up a position near a road, and 

 rendered it impassable to travellers. Females with calves are at all times 

 dangerous to approach. Contrary to what is stated to be the case with the 

 African species, when an Indian elephant makes a charge, it does so with its 

 trunk tightly curled up, and it makes its attack by trampling its victim with its 

 feet or knees, or, if a male, by pinning it to the ground with its tusks. At certain 

 periods of the year the male elephant is subject to paroxysms of excitement, 

 generally supposed to be due to sexual causes, and is then highly dangerous, not 

 only to human beings, but to its fellow-animals. The creature is then said to be 

 mast, or mad; and the approach of such attacks is indicated by the copious flow 

 of a dark tar-like liquid from two small orifices in the forehead. At the first 

 indications of one of those seizures, domesticated elephants should be promptly 

 secured. 



Not the least remarkable fact connected with elephants in 

 Breeding. .... . . 



captivity, is the circumstance that in India at least they very rarely 



breed when in this condition ; thus showing what a profound effect the change 

 from a wild to a domesticated mode of life must have on the animal's entire 

 organisation. It is stated, however, that in some parts of Burma and Siam, young- 

 are produced much more freely from captive females. The ordinary period of 

 gestation is about nineteen months, but it appears that in some cases it may be 

 a month less, while in others its duration may be as much as twenty-two months. 

 As a rule, the young are born in the autumn, from September to November ; and 

 there is generally but one produced at a birth, although in rare instances twins 

 occur. The new-born calf stands about a yard in height, and weighs about 

 200 lbs. ; it suckles its parent with its mouth, and not, as has sometimes been 

 supposed, with its trunk. 





