The Elephant^ 27 



always divert this creature's attention from the man who 

 is about to kill him. The barking of a few curs about his 

 feet never fails to make an enraged elephant forget the 

 object of attack. 



Sir Samuel Baker (" Wild Beasts and their Ways ") and 

 Colonel Pollok ("Sport in British Burmah") have de- 

 scribed at length the most vulnerable points in the body 

 and head, but sporting stories and details, except in so far 

 as they illustrate temper and traits of character, are beside 

 the purpose here. It may be said, however, that the fore- 

 head shot, so constantly made in India, cannot be resorted 

 to with an African elephant. It has been tried a great 

 many times, and there are only two or three instances on 

 record where the animal has been killed. This is due to 

 a difference of conformation in the skull, in the position 

 of the brain, and to the manner in which this elephant 

 holds its head in charging, says F. C. Selous (" Travel and 

 Adventure in South East Africa "). 



Without going into anatomical details, it may be said 

 that an African is about a foot taller than an Indian 

 elephant, his ears are much larger, his back is concave 

 instead of convex, and the tusks are much heavier and 

 longer. Their position in the jaw also differs ; they con- 

 verge in passing backwards and upwards into the massive 

 processes in which they are set, so that their roots, and 

 the masses of bone and cartilage which form their sockets, 

 effectually protect the brain, which lies low behind the 

 receding forehead. 



Speaking of hunting on horseback, W. Knighton 

 (" Forest Life in Ceylon ") mentioned it as a well-known 



