The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 177 



In disposition both African and Asiatic elephants are as a rule timid animals, and, excepting 

 in the case of males of the latter species when suffering from sexual excitement, are always 

 inclined to shun danger. I have ne\'er lieard of male elephants of the African species 

 becoming savage and aggressive at any season of the year; indeed, old bulls always appeared to 

 me to be less inclined to charge than cows or young buUs. The eyesight of tlie elephant — of 

 the African species at least — is bad, and his liearing not piarticularly acute ; hut liis olfactory 

 nerves are probably more highly developed than in any other animal, and, aided liy this 

 exquisite sense of smell, he will avoid a human being if possible. But if elephants are 

 attacked and wounded, they become savage and dangerous animals ; and the charge of an 

 African elephant, coming on with the great ears outspread, to the accompaniment of a quick 

 succession of short, sharp trumpeting screams, besides being very sudden and rapid, is very 

 disconcerting to the nerves of a man unaccustomed to such experiences. I remember the case 

 of a young Englishman who was killed in Matabililand many years ago by the first elei)liant 

 he had ever seen. This animal — an old bull — had retired, after having been wounded, into a 

 small but dense patch of thorn-bush, into which its pursuer thought it unadvisable to follow 

 on horseback. He therefore left his horse, and advanced on foot towards the cluster of trees 

 amongst which the elephant was concealed. The latter, having either seen or smelt the 

 approaching enemy, at once charged out, screaming loudly ; and the young hunter, instead of 

 standing his ground and firing at the advancing monster, lost his presence of mind, and, turning, 

 ran for his horse ; but before he reached it he was overtaken and killed. It seemed to the 

 friend who found his body (he was close at hand shooting another elephant at the time, and 

 pieced the story together from the tracks of man, horse, and elephant) that the victim had first 

 been struck in the back of the head by one of his pursuer's tusks — at any rate his skull had 

 been smashed to pieces and emptied of its brains. Then the elej)hant had rushed ujion him 

 where he fell, and, after first having driven a tusk right through his chest and deep into the 



Fliolo bii M. E. F. llaird, Esq. 



INDIAN ELEPHANTS BATHING. 

 These animals love a bath, and will walk on the bottom of a deep river with only their trunks raised above the water. 



23 



