152 



MAMMALIA. 



[Chap. IV. 



terror; and a third will await his approach without 

 motion, and then advance with fury to the " charge." 



In individuals the same differences are discernible; 

 one flies on the first appearance of danger, whilst 

 another, alone and unsupported, will face a whole host 

 of enemies. When wounded and infuriated with pain, 

 many of them become literally savage 1 ; but, so unac- 

 customed are they to act as assailants, and so awkward 

 and inexpert in using their strength, that they rarely or 

 ever exceed in killing a pursuer who falls into their 

 power. Although the pressure of a foot, a blow with the 

 trunk, or a thrust with the tusk, could scarcely fail to 

 prove fatal, three-fourths of those who have fallen into 

 their power have escaped without serious injury. So 

 great is this chance of impunity, that the sportsman 

 prefers to approach within about fifteen paces of the ad- 

 vancing elephant, a space which gives time for a second 

 fire should the first shot prove ineffectual, and should 

 both fail there is still opportunity for flight. 



Amongst full-grown timber, a skilful runner can 

 escape from an elephant by " dodging " round the trees, 

 but in cleared land, and low brushwood, the difficulty is 

 much increased, as the small growth of underwood which 

 obstructs the movements of man presents no obstacle to 

 those of an elephant. On the other hand, on level and 

 open ground the chances are rather in favour of the ele- 

 phant, as his pace in full flight exceeds that of man, 

 although as a general rule, it is unequal to that of a 

 horse, as has been sometimes asserted. 2 



1 Some years ago an elephant succeeded in making good its re- 



which had been wounded by a treat to the jungle, 

 native, near Hambangtotte, pursued 2 Shaw, in his Zoology \ asserts 



the man into the town, followed that an elephant can run as swiftly 



him along the street, trampled him as a horse can gallop. London, 



to death in the bazaar before a 1800-6, vol. i. p. 216. 

 crowd of terrified spectators, and 



