258 ZOOLOGY. 



17. Elephas (Loxodonta) Africanus, Cuvier. 

 Cuv. Eigne Animal, ii. p. 231. 



Elephants were not very uncommon in the neighbour- 

 hood of Annesley Bay, and several were killed by some 

 of the sportsmen in the army, whilst their footprints 

 and the dried droppings were conspicuous everywhere. 

 Farther north, near Massowa, we met with their tracks 

 in all the valleys traversed, but we very rarely saw the 

 animals themselves, and we only killed a small herd of 

 five at Kokai, in the Lebka valley, as related on a 

 previous page. 



The differences between the form and habits of the 

 Indian and African Elephants have been so frequently 

 described, and both species have of late years become 

 so well known by the exhibition of specimens in the 

 various Zoological Gardens in Europe, that but few re- 

 marks are necessary. The impression produced upon all 

 who saw the Abyssinian Elephants was that they were 

 more active and better climbers than the Indian animals, 

 and also that they were more savage in disposition. 

 They often inhabit steep hill-sides, and the rapidity with 

 which they ascend and descend these was described as 

 marvellous by some of those who witnessed them. 



The conduct of the small herd at Kokai was very 

 curious, illustrating the boldness of the creatures in 

 remaining all day in the midst of men and domestic 

 animals, while at the same time they afforded a re- 

 markable case of stupidity when attacked. On a 

 subsequent occasion Captain Mockler attacked a herd 

 of very large Elephants ; and at the first shot the whole 



