THE ELEPHANT 43 



This splendid type, in addition to being much 

 larger, differs very Avidely in form from the 

 Asiatic variety. In the latter the back, which 

 so readily fits the howdah, is convex, and the 

 shoulder much lower than the point of the spine. 

 In the African beast, on the contrary, the highest 

 point is the shoulder, and the back is strikingly 

 concave, whilst from its highest point it slopes 

 almost sharply down to the root of the tail. It 

 has, therefore, been supposed that for that 

 reason it would not lend itself to utilisation 

 in capti\'ity to the same extent, and for the same 

 purposes as the Eastern variety, so long and so 

 familiar an object of interest to visitors to 

 India, Burmah, the Zoological Gardens, and 

 elsewhere. Another pecuharity consists in the 

 differences presented by the shape of the skulls 

 of the two animals, as also in the sizes of the 

 ears, — ^those of the African elephant being so 

 enormous that the edge, when pressed against 

 the side, indicates a spot through which a bullet 

 may be directed to the very middle of the 

 lungs. 



As a general rule, elephants are timid beasts. 

 The herd on winding hmnan beings almost 

 invariably retreats, as also do sohtary animals in 

 most cases. This timidity of disposition cannot, 

 however, be regarded as invariable. Instances 

 have occurred of individuals being attacked 

 and very seriously — ^in some cases fatally — ^injured, 

 by the charge of unmolested elephants. The 

 case of a friend of mine who, while travelling 

 up to an administrative post to which he had 



