ELEPHANTS. 



My first experience with elephants commenced in Exeter 

 'Change, in the Strand, where, as I have before stated, I 

 became acquainted with Mr. Cross, the then proprietor of 

 the menagerie. I well remember the killing of the elephant 

 Chunie in 1826, as I was present on that occasion. 



Being so young I was much alarmed, more on account of 

 the fury of the charges he made on the front of the den 

 than at the firing of the soldiers. The great fear expressed 

 by all present was that he would break out, as had he 

 done so the whole floor of the building would have given 

 way under his weight and he would have landed in the 

 Bazaar in the Strand beneath. 



In 1847 the large male elephant, Jack; died in the 

 Zoological Gardens. I was sent'Jiaf to skin and prepare the 

 skeleton of this huge animal. Professor Owen, Professor 

 Rymer Jones and other anatomists were present on the 

 occasion, taking notes and assisting in the dissection. By 

 the accidental breaking of the tackle used in lifting the 

 body of this ponderous brute I was nearly crushed to death, 

 and Professor Owen, while endeavouring to remove the 

 brain, so lacerated his hands against the ragged edge of 

 the skull-bones that an alarming and dangerous illness 

 was the result ; in fact, it was thought for some time that 

 his life was in danger. Since this event I have had con- 

 siderable experience in skinning and preparing large 

 animals. The various proprietors of menageries would 



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