xzm 



tJons and supplying the place of aromatic plants whicb are par- 

 taken of freely by the wild elephant. The enormous bulk of the 

 elephant's fodder seems to render some such addition essentia;!, 

 and experience seema to show that almost all animals in tropical 

 climate from man to the ox, require some such artificial stimulant 

 to the digestive organs, especially during hot weather. 



Wild elephants like other herbivora resort freely to salt-licks. 

 They are often captured by surrounding these places with a stock- 

 ade. The salt ration is most valuable in promoting digestion and in 

 freeing the stomach and bowels from pai-asites so liable to be trans- 

 ferred into them with the large quantity of green forage. With 

 regard to the Fodder or Cherrai ; since this constitutes so mnoh 

 of the large quadruped's dietetic support it requires the great- 

 est exercise of care to ensure that it be good in quality, sufficient 

 in quantity, clean, and palatable. Also it must be given at the pro- 

 per time of day and in accordance with the season of the year. 

 In thinking of the elephant in relation to food we must not lose 

 sight of the general principles of food and feeding. The remark- 

 able resemblances between the alimentary canal of this animal 

 and that of the horse should guide us to an extent. We should 

 also as much as possible imitate nature in our treatment of domes- 

 ticated animals. The elephant is fastidious about his diet, he 

 beats his grass against the fore legs to free it from dirt, and will 

 refuse slimy grass or branches and leaves covered with bird's 

 dung — his grass-food requires to be cleaned and picked over like 

 the grass of horses in India because, especially when the Mahouts 

 are given an allowance for cutting fodder free of cost, useless 

 grass, faded leaves, and rubbish of various kinds is often supplied 

 instead of good grass or hay. 



" The golden rule to be observed with an elephant is to give 

 him enough to eat" says Johnstone;* at least 3 raaunds of eatable 

 stufi (10 maunds ; Ed.'s 0. S. M.) per diem should be allowed ia 

 addition to his ratib. No doubt grazing when possible is the 

 host method of feeding but sufficient range is not always procura- 

 ble and in the hot season grass runs short, even then, however, 



* Johnstone's Fodder Dietai-y (Bengal). 



January Ketbee. 



February to tbe end of May ... Kerbee or Sugar-cane. 



June to August Kerbee or green Dhan. 



September to December Green or dry Kerbee. 



