98 



MAMMALIA. 



[Chap. III. 



objects and incidents which, imperfectly discerned, excite 

 suspicions for its safety. 1 In 1841 an officer 2 was chased 

 by an elephant that he had slightly wounded. Seizing 

 him near the dry bed of a river, the animal had its fore- 

 foot already raised to crush him ; but its forehead being 

 caught at the instant by the tendrils of a climbing plant 

 which had suspended itself from the branches above, it 

 suddenly turned and fled ; leaving him badly hurt, but 

 with no limb broken. I have heard similar instances, 

 equally well attested, of this peculiarity in the ele- 

 phant. 



On the other hand, the power of smell is so remark- 

 able as almost to compensate for the deficiency of sight. 

 A herd is not only apprised of the approach of dan- 

 ger by this means, but when scattered in the forest, and 

 dispersed out of range of sight, they are enabled by it 

 to reassemble with rapidity and adopt precautions for 

 their common safety. The same necessity is met by a 

 delicate sense of hearing, and the use of a variety of 

 noises or calls, by means 01 which elephants succeed in 

 communicating with each other upon all emergencies. 

 " The sounds which they utter have been described by 

 the African hunters as of three kinds : the first, which is 

 very shrill, produced by blowing through the trunk, is 

 indicative of pleasure ; the second, produced by the 

 mouth, is expressive of want ; and the third, proceeding 

 from the throat, is a terrific roar of anger or revenge." 3 

 These words convey but an imperfect idea of the variety 

 of noises made by the elephant in Ceylon; and the 

 shrill cry produced by blowing through his trunk, so far 



1 Menageries, tyc.y " The Ele- found in the Ceylon Miscellany for 

 phant," p. 27. 1842, vol. i. p. 221. 



2 Major Rogers. An account of 3 Menageries, Sfc, " The Ele- 

 this singular adventure will be phant," ch. iii. p. 68. 



