33 
Natural History of the Elephant. 
the gradual increase of growth, were made upon a young ele- 
phant of Mr. Stephen Harris, which was accurately measured 
from time to time, and upon a female elephant of my own, 
till I left Tiperah. 
Mr. Harris's elephant, at its birth, October 16,1789, was 35 
inches high. 
Feet. Inches. 
In one year he grew 
11 inches, and was 
3 
10 high. 
In the 2d year 
8 
4 
6 
In the 3d year 
6 - 
5 
0 
In the 4th year 
5 
5 
5 
In the 3th year 
A - - - 
5 
10 
In the 6th year 
3 i 
6 
In the 7th year 
2 x 
6 
4 
Except during his 4th and 5th years, the above measurement 
shows a gradual decrease in the proportion of growth for every 
year ; and there was no opportunity of tracing the growth of 
this elephant further than its 7th year. 
Another elephant, six feet nine inches high, at the time she 
came into my possession, was supposed to be fourteen years 
old; but, as the accuracy of the hunters cannot be depended on, 
it will be proper to take Mr. Harris’s elephant, whose age is 
exactly known, as a standard ; and, judging from its annual 
increase, this will lead us to consider the elephant, at the time 
I received her, to be only eleven years old ; giving a period of 
four years, for the addition of five inches. I have made a 
greater allowance of time, on account of this elephant being 
a female, and Mr. Harris’s a male, which there is much reason 
to believe grows faster. 
During the next five years, before she was covered, she grew 
MDCCXCIX. F 
