J 82 Elephantid^. MAMMALIA. Elephantidas. 
of tlie intestine. The mammae are two in number, 
situated beneath the anterior part of the chest. Ele- 
pliants herd together in considerable numbers, subsist- 
ing entirely on vegetable matters. 
THE INDIAN ELEPHANT {ElepJias Indicus)— 
see Frontispiece— is a native of the peninsula from 
whence it derives its specific name ; and also of Cey- 
lon, Sumatra, and Borneo. From the earliest times 
it has been employed as a beast of burden ; and in 
European menageries it has ever formed one of the 
most attractive objects of amusement to natural history 
loving people. It is distinguished from the African 
species by its oblong head, which is concave anteriorly; 
by the character of the enameled ridges on the crown 
of the molar teeth already described ; by the compara- 
tive smallness of the ears ; by the vei’y shoi't tusks of 
the female ; by the paler colour of the hide ; and bj^ 
the circumstance of its hamng four nails on the hinder 
feet. It is not our intention to dwell at any length 
upon the habits of the elephant in a tame or semi- 
domesticated state, otherwise we should be led to 
record numerous anecdotes in wdiich the sagacity of 
this animal has been very unduly exaggerated and 
embellished with erroneous statements. The follow- 
ing particulars, however, will be found interesting ; — 
“Elephants,” says Captain Williamson, “have a gi'eat 
dislike to camels, though they will travel with them, 
when laden, without showing it much. Nothing dis- 
tresses this majestic animal more than being closely 
followed by a horse, especially at a canter or other 
quick pace. Probably the clattering of his hoofs 
creates alarm. An elephant cannot bear the approach 
of dogs, or other small quadrupeds; and if, in pro- 
ceeding through a grass jungle, game should start near 
him, he will frequently evince great uneasiness. In 
heavy covers elephants are of infinite service, their 
bulk, and the noise occasioned by their movements, 
often rousing game which would else remain secreted, 
and their height giving a commanding view to tlieir 
riders.” Elephants have likewise a particular hatred 
of tlie rhinoceros, and can scarcely be induced to 
approach within sight or smell, even though the animal 
be dead. Their disposition is extremely capricious m 
the tame state, and their mode of resenting real or 
fancied insults is often attended with terrible destruc- 
tion to life and property. Instances of this are too 
well known to need illustration. For the capturing of 
elephants in the wild state, various methods are adopted 
in different parts of India. The most usual mode is 
by driving them into a Jceddah, or large inclosure 
surrounded by a deep trench and external paling, 
strongly built, and propped from \vithout by large 
wooden beams. Several thousand natives are em- 
ploj'cd in frightening and driving them into this decoy ; 
but the operation is usually attended with much diffi- 
culty. When once secured within the area, their 
subsequent submission and domestication is only a 
work of time. Another mode of taking them is by 
means of Icoomkies or decoy elephants; these are 
females taught to simulate wanton wiles; and being 
conducted by their drivers to the saun, or isolated male, 
which they propose to take, the unsuspecting beast is 
secured by the mahouts whilst engaged in the all- 
absorbing pleasures of courtship and fancied secrecy. 
Ropes being passed round his legs, and the hind pair 
having been fastened to a tree, the drivers now steal 
from beneath his body, and the koomkies leave the 
beast to his fate. On detecting the snare, he becomes 
perfectly furious, destroying Avhatever may be in his 
Avay, “ tearing up the tufts of grass by the roots, 
rending from the tree such branches as may be rvithin 
his reach, and eventually straining to throrv down the 
tree itself by his weight, or to pull it up with his trunk. 
In short, his whole powers are in action on this occa- 
sion; and it is not until being completely overcome 
Avith faligue, and nearly dead from his natural thirst, 
Avhich is greatly augmented by constant roarings, that 
he subsides into a sort of tranquillity.” In a day or two 
he takes food from the mahouts Avho constantly visit 
him ; and at length he permits himself to be conducted 
to the home of .the successful proprietor. A third 
mode of capturing the elephant is by means of the 
phaun or slip knot. This consists of a stout rope, ten 
or tAvelve yards long, and at least an inch in thickness, 
Avith a sliding noose at the free extremity. A single 
small-sized elephant being selected out of a herd, a 
skilful mahout, mounted on a tame elephant, gives 
chase; and throAving the loop over tlie animal’s head, 
he soon moderates or checks its progress by tightening 
the cord. The breathing becoming straightened, the 
driver is not long in acquiring entire control over his 
captive, which is ultimately conducted to a place of 
security. A fourth plan consists in digging pits ; but 
this method is highly objectionable, as the animal 
sometimes sustains irremediable injury. Before con- 
cluding we may remark that the Indian elephant rarely 
exceeds nine feet in height ; the average stature being 
about eight feet at the shoulder. The tallest specimen 
ever known in Bengal measured, it is said, nearly twelve 
feet, and Avas proportionately bulky. Mr. John Corse, 
hoAvever, Avho kept a large establishment for the rearing 
of elephants at Tipperah, has stated, in a memoir com- 
municated to the Royal Society in 1799, that the largest 
species he ever heard of did not exceed ten feet six 
inches. The same authority states that the period of 
gestation in the female, extends over a space of twenty- 
tAvo months; only one young being produced at each 
birth. 
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Elephas Africanus) 
occupies an extensive range in the interior plains and 
forests of the continent from Avhence it derives its speci- 
fic title. As already hinted, it is at once distinguished 
from the Asiatic species by the remarkable size and 
expanse of the ears, by the presence of Avell -developed 
tusks in the female, by the darker aspect of the skin, 
by the lozenge-shaped ridges of enamel on the ctoatos 
of the molar teeth, and by the presence of only three 
nails on the hmder feet. The male attains a height of 
tAvelve feet at the shoulder, and is on an average taller 
than its Indian congener ; its tusks are much larger, 
measuring betAveen eight and nine feet in length, and 
weighing upAvards of a hundred pounds, those of the 
female being four feet long. The Aveight of ivory of 
various kinds annually brought over to this country is 
said to amount to four hundred and sixty-eight tons, 
Avhich is equivalent to a sum of about £300,000 sterling; 
