chap, vii.] DIFFERENCE IN FORMATION OF BRAIN. 277 
of 31 inches. This will convey an idea of the enormous 
size of the head, and of the strength of bone and 
cartilage required to hold in position so great a weight, 
and to resist the strain when the tusk is used as a 
lever to uproot trees. 
The brain of an African elephant rests upon a plate 
of bone exactly above the roots of the upper grinders; 
it is thus wonderfully protected from a front shot, as 
it lies so low that the ball passes above it when the 
elephant raises his head, which he invariably does 
when in anger, until close to the object of his attack. 
The character of the country naturally influences 
the habits of the animals : thus, Africa, being more 
generally open than the forest-clad Ceylon, the ele¬ 
phant is more accustomed to activity, and is much 
faster than the Ceylon variety. Being an old elephant- 
hunter of the latter island, I was exceedingly inte¬ 
rested in the question of variety of species, and I had 
always held the opinion that the African elephant 
might be killed with the same facility as that of 
Ceylon, by the forehead shot, provided that a sufficient 
charge of powder were used to penetrate the extra 
thickness of the head. I have found, by much expe¬ 
rience, that I was entirely wrong, and that, although 
by chance an African elephant may be killed by the 
front shot, it is the exception to the rule. The danger 
