UNITY OR PLURALITY OF SPECIES. 269 



debarcation of the animals, slung through the air, was 

 figured in the 'Illustrated London News' of the day as a 

 remarkable event. Young Elephants are, I believe, never 

 imported from Ceylon to Calcutta; 1 and 'Choonee' was ex- 

 ported thence as a very young animal. Ceylon Elephants 

 are exported to the adjoining peninsula ; but they are com- 

 monly reserved for the priests of the pagodas, for the chiefs 

 of Southern India, and for the commissariat demands of the 

 Madras and Bombay Presidencies. I doubt if the Ceylon 

 Elephant could endure the winter cold of the North-Western 

 provinces, exposed in the open air. I have been on the back 

 of an indigenous Elephant, in the valley of Deyra, in the 

 North-Western provinces, which is constantly resorted to 

 by herds of the wild animal, wben the thermometer stood 

 before sunrise at 22° Fahr. ; and Sir Andrew Waugh informs 

 me that during the measurement of the base-line for the 

 Trigonometrical Survey, in Chuch, the temperature fell to 15° 

 Fahr., with Elephants in the camp, exposed to the open air. 

 On a review, therefore, of the whole case, the evidence in 

 every aspect appears to fail in showing that the Elephant of 

 Ceylon and Sumatra is of a species distinct from the Conti- 

 nental Indian form. Having had opportunities of observing 

 the animal along a range of habitat, which rarely fall to the 

 lot of a single naturalist, I have felt called upon to express 

 an opinion on the moot question. These embraced a resi- 

 dence during many years at Suharunpoor, in lat. 30°, near 

 the extreme northern range of the species, close to jungles 

 where wild Elephants abound, and which my duties led me 

 frequently to explore. In 1832, 1 was present at the ' Koom,' 

 or great Religious Fair, which takes place at Hurdwar, on 

 the Ganges, after each cycle of twelve years. 2 Vast multi- 

 tudes of devotees, and others of all ranks and castes and of 

 both sexes assemble there from the most remote parts of 

 India and the surrounding countries, all the wealthiest 

 classes bringing Elephants with them. 3 On that occasion I 



1 Mr. Blyth, in a late number of the Madras and Bengal, showing the vast 

 ' Journal of the Asiatic Society of Ben- number of Elephants occurring in the 

 gal,' received since the above remarks j forests of the Trans-Gangetic provinces, 

 were made, confirms the statement. By a and the adjoining districts of Siam. 



return received from the Military Com- 

 missariat Office, at Calcutta, it, appears 

 that 826 Elephants were imported there, 

 from Moulmein and Rangoon, in the 



(Op. cit. 1862, No. ii. p. 174.) 



- 'Kumbha Mela.' Duodecennial, 

 when Jupiter is in Aquarius, and the 

 sun entering into Aries. ( Vide Raper. 



years 1857 to 1859. 'No Elephants,' ; Asiat. Research. Vol. xi. p. 456.) 

 it is added, ' were received at Calcutta j 3 General Hardwick, who was pre- 

 from Ceylon.' A communication from sent at the 'Koom' Fair of 1796, esti- 

 Col. Phayre mentions that in the seven- j mates the number of human beings then 

 teen months, from Dec. 1857 to April I assembled to have exceeded two and a 

 1859, no fewer than 1,034 Elephants half millions! doubtloss an exaggeration, 

 were shipped from the same ports to [ Five hundred devotees of ono sect were 



