242 
THE ELEPHANT. 
city of this species of animal than the ordinary 
docility which it manifests at the command of 
the showman. It is stated that on the last of 
these occasions, when the female elephant | 
belonging to Mr. Cross’s menagerie, then 
about seven years old, called Lutchme, bore a 
part in a melo-drama at the Coburg theatre^ 
her theatrical education occupied only three 
weeks ; and this rapid instruction was acquired 
under a system of unremitting kindness and 
judicious rewards. The remarkable instinct 
which the elephant possesses of trying the 
strength of any construction which it is ne- 
cessary for him to cross, was particularly ob- 
served here ; for the female in question, w'heH 
first brought upon the stage, would not be led 
to any point before she had carefully ascer- 
tained the strength of the boards on which sh® 
trod, thrusting her trunk against every suspi' 
cious spot, and hesitatingly placing her feet 
advance before she moved her body forward. 
