49 
Natural History of the Elephant. 
female which was covered in June ; and gave particular direc- 
tions not to overheat her, but merely to give her as much food 
and exercise as were likely to keep her in the best condition, as 
she was now known to be pregnant. In three months after she 
was covered, she became fuller, her flesh felt softer, and her 
breasts began to swell. These marks of her being with young, 
were so evident to the driver, that he mentioned them of his 
own accord; which convinced me, that an elephant, three 
months after conception, may be known by the keepers to be 
pregnant. 
She had always been a favourite, from having been the 
gift of my worthy and respected friend Mr. John Buller,* as 
well as from her gentle and docile disposition ; and I now had 
hopes of her going her full time. 
She was seven feet three inches high, when covered; but, 
after this, increased so fast, not in bulk only, but also in height, 
as to exceed seven feet eight inches, before she brought forth. 
On the 16th of March, 1 795, she produced a fine male; just 
twenty months and eighteen days after she was first covered. 
The young one was thirty-five inches and a half high ; and 
had every appearance of having arrived at its full time, being 
the largest I had known produced in Tiperah. 
We have many young produced every year, by the females 
which are taken while breeding, and these seldom exceed 
thirty-four inches ; this, however, may be owing to the weak 
and reduced state the mothers are brought to, while break- 
ing in. 
The young of the elephant, at least all those I have seen, 
begin to nibble and suck the breast soon after birth ; pressing 
* Now one of the Members of the Board of Revenue, at Calcutta. 
MDCCXCIX. H 
