76 
IVILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP, 
inequalities or rents, and above all they ought to be 
smooth, as though they had been carefully ironed. 
When an elephant is old, the top of the ear curls, and 
this symptom increases with advancing years. The 
eyes should be large and clear, the favourite colour 
a bright hazel. The tusks ought to be as thick as 
possible, free from cracks, gracefully curved, very 
slightly to the right and left, and projecting not less 
than three feet from the lips. The body should be 
well rounded, without a sign of any rib. The 
shoulders must be massive with projecting muscular 
development; the back very slightly arched, and not 
sloping too suddenly towards the tail, which should 
be set up tolerably high. This ought to be thick and 
long, the end well furnished with a double fringe of 
very long thick hairs or whalebone-looking bristles. 
The legs should be short in proportion to the height 
of the animal, but immensely thick, and the upper 
portion above the knee ought to exhibit enormous 
muscle. The knees should be well rounded, and 
the feet be exactly equal to half the perpendicular 
height of the elephant when measured in their 
circumference, the weight pressing upon them whilst 
standing. 
The skin generally ought to be soft and pliable, 
by no means tight or strained, but lying easily upon 
the limbs and body. 
An elephant which possesses this physical de¬ 
velopment should be equal in the various points 
of character that are necessary to a highly-trained 
animal. 
