lo Wild Beasts 



The effect upon these species of those general influ- 

 ences which are exerted by social life may be inferred 

 from the existence of their coherent family groups, from 

 the protracted period during which maternal guardianship 

 is continued, and the baneful results that solitude brings 

 about. Still there seems to be little doubt that Green, 

 Moodie, and Pollok represent the best opinion in saying 

 that sympathy is less active in elephants than it is in many 

 animals whose moral qualities have usually been considered 

 as greatly inferior to theirs. "I have never known an 

 instance," remarks Sanderson, " of a tusker undertaking to 

 cover the retreat of a herd." 



Although elephants are often hysterical, and always 

 nervous, discipline effects great changes in their ordinary 

 conduct. At the same time, they can rarely be trusted. 

 Sir Samuel Baker states (" Wild Beasts and Their Ways") 

 that he had never ridden but " one thoroughly dependable 

 elephant," and most tiger-hunters say the same. 



Elephants are without ideals of any kind. They cannot 

 be influenced by superstitions, and it is useless to explain 

 their excellencies and defects by reference to a descent of 

 which we know nothing, or to assume that transformations 

 may be effected by means of an education that always 

 begins de novo, and is in itself superficial and incomplete 

 in the highest degree. Foreknowledge of those conse- 

 quences entailed by misbehavior no doubt prompts most 

 of the acts that are attributed to industry, magnanimity, 

 friendliness, and forbearance, as attention to their keeper's 

 directions explains the usual manifestations of intellect 

 that have been so much admired. 



