THE ELEPHANTS. 
105 
where a more gorgeous and efficient shade is 
afforded, and they can enjoy the luxury of a cold 
bath, and wallow covered at once from the 
influence of the sun, and the torment of insects. 
Here the herd, guided by some monstrous male, 
long standing in years, spends the forenoon heats, 
at evening or morning venturing to the out- 
skirts or open glades, to feed on the tender foliage, 
which they can reach, and are able to pluck from 
a great height by means of their trunks or pro- 
bosces. They are particularly fond of those of a 
saccharine quality, whence they often enter and do 
prodigious damage in the plantations of the sugar 
cane. They are easily alarmed, and retreat to 
cover upon the alarm being given by their leader ; 
but when attacked or wounded, they turn upon 
their assailant with the utmost fury, and unless 
he has previously prepared a way of escape, 
seldom fail in wreaking their vengeance, and 
satisfying their revenge, by mangling and tramp- 
ling the body long after life has been extinct. 
Two species of Elephants now existing have 
been described ; the one inhabiting the Asiatic 
continent, the other the African. The principal 
external distinction is the immense size of the 
ears in the last, compared with those of the Indian 
animal, as we have endeavoured to represent on 
our plates. We shall now describe and illustrate 
the species separately ; and first, 
