THE ELEPHANT. 



PRE-EMINENT among quadrupeds, both as 

 regards his size and his sagacity, the Ele- 

 phant claims our attention above all other animals. 

 Larger than his Asiatic relative, the African Ele- 

 phant also differs from him in many particulars. 

 One is the immense ears, which, when laid back, 

 reach beyond the shoulders and cover all his fore- 

 quarters, and when thrown forward conceal his 

 body from the view of any one in front of him, and 

 "give to his head the appearance of being provided 

 with a pair of huge leathery wings. Both sexes 

 possess tusks, and the female has thus a great ad- 

 vantage over her Asiatic representative, which is 

 devoid of these valuable and useful appendages. 



This great animal (belonging, with the Hippo- 

 potamus and Rhinoceros, to the class of pachy- 

 derms, so designated from the great thickness of 

 their hides), is always accustomed to go in large 

 troops, the old males taking up their position in 

 front and rear to protect from any sudden attack 

 the females and young, cluster together in the 

 centre. It has no cause to fear most of the wild 

 animals inhabiting its districts, although, as occa- 

 sionally happens, when it engages in conflict with 

 the unwieldly Rhinoceros, the latter will rush 

 upon, and getting beneath its huge adversary, 

 will plunge its long, sharp horn into the Ele- 

 hant's body, and by repeated stabs bring it in a 

 short time lifeless to the earth. A species of tick 

 and many other insects infest its hide, and cause 



the animal great annoyance. To rid itself of 

 these it has recourse to a very ingenious and ef- 

 fectual method. Seeking some half-dried pool, 

 the mud of which is still soft, it lies down and 

 rolls in it, wallowing after the manner of a Pig in 

 a similar place. Having covered itself thoroughly 

 with the sticky earth, it emerges entirely of an- 

 other color, according as the mud may be white, 

 red, or black, and, taking up its position in the 

 sun, remains motionless for hours, until the cov- 

 ering becomes dry and hard. Then by sudden 

 muscular efforts the mud is broken, and falls off 

 the hide, carrying with it all the insects that were 

 on the animal's body, and which, had become im- 

 bedded in the hardened earth, and the sagacious 

 animal moves off, freed for a time from his minute 

 tormentors. 



As a general rule. Elephants live to a great 

 age, but whenever any one of a herd becomes ill* 

 no matter from what cause, the others set upon 

 it and drive it from their society, When thus 

 obliged to leave its companions, the poor animal 

 immediately seeks some chosen place, usually 

 known to hunters and travelers as the Elephants' 

 cemetery, and there" remains until he dies. No 

 matter how far this particular place may be from 

 the spot where the herd was living at the time 

 the invalid was obliged to leave, he Will strive to 

 reach it, as though it was impossible for him to 

 die anywhere else. 



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