196 



MAMMALIA. 



[Chap. VI. 



agony and affliction, the little fellows seized on every 

 article of food that was thrown to them, and ate and 

 roared simultaneously. 



Amongst the last of the elephants noosed was the 

 rogue. Though far more savage than the others, he 

 joined in none of their charges and assaults on the fences, 

 as they uniformly drove him off and would not permit 

 him to enter their circle. When dragged past another 

 of his companions in misfortune, who was lying exhausted 

 on the ground, he flew upon him and attempted to fasten 

 his teeth in his head ; this was the only instance of 

 viciousness which occurred during the progress of the 

 corral. When tied up and overpowered, he was at first 

 noisy and violent, but soon lay down peacefully, a sign, 

 according to the hunters, that his death was at hand. 

 Their prognostication was correct; he continued for 

 about twelve hours to cover himself with dust like the 

 others, and to moisten it with water from his trunk ; but 

 at length he lay exhausted, and died so calmly, that 

 having been moving but a few moment before, his death 

 was only perceived by the myriads of black flies by which 

 his body was almost instantly covered, although not one 

 was visible a moment before. 1 The Eodiyas were called 



1 The surprising faculty of vul- 

 tures for discovering carrion, has 

 been a subject of much speculation, 

 as to whether it be dependent on 

 their power of sight or of scent. 

 It is not, however, more mysterious 

 than the unerring certainty and 

 rapidity with which some of the 

 minor animals, and more especially 

 insects, in warm climates congre- 

 gate around the offal on which 

 they feed. Circumstanced as they 

 are, they must be guided towards 

 their object mainly if not exclu- 



sively by the sense of smell ; but 

 that which excites astonishment is 

 the small degree of odour which 

 seems to suffice for the purpose ; 

 the subtlety and rapidity with 

 which it traverses and impregnates 

 the air; and the keen and quick 

 perception with which it is taken 

 up by the organs of those creatures. 

 The instance of the scavenger 

 beetles has been already alluded 

 to; the promptitude with which 

 they discern the existence of matter 

 suited to their purposes, and the 



