ELEPHANTS 
723 
has travelled. They do not often feed at noon; but during 
all the remainder of the day and night they feed at any 
time they choose. They drink great quantities of water; 
but in desert lands this may be only on every other day, and 
they may travel fifty miles between drinks. If much hunted 
they drink only at night. 
Elephants are interesting because they have such varied 
feelings, such a wide range of intelligent appreciation. 
Doubtless this is in part due to the possession, in the trunk, 
of an organ the development of which has itself permitted 
development of brain power. Very great brain power could 
not have been developed as an accompaniment merely of 
hoofs; hands, however imperfect, were necessary, or else 
something that would serve as a partial substitute for hands. 
By watching a herd of elephants any one can speedily see 
the wide range of uses to which the trunk is put, and the 
many needs and emotions which it develops and satisfies. 
During courtship the bull and cow caress one another 
with their trunks. Elephants are very curious, and the 
trunks are used to test every object which arouses their 
curiosity. The cow is constantly fondling and guiding the 
calf with her trunk. The trunk is used to gather every 
species of food and to draw water. It is used to spurt dust 
or water over the body; it is used to test rotten and danger¬ 
ous ground. It is in constant use to try the wind so as to 
guard against the approach of any foe. As one watches the 
great beasts the trunks continually appear in the air above 
them, uncurling, twisting, feeling each breath of air. Now 
and then a great ear is flapped. Now and then the weight of 
the body is slightly shifted from one colossal leg to another. 
The huge beasts are rarely entirely motionless for any 
