53 6 
UNGULATES. 
Cries. 
Disposition. 
rapidly the soil becomes broken down under their weight so as to form a regular 
sloping road. 
The Indian elephant, under different circumstances, gives vent 
to a variety of sounds, some of which are produced in the trunk, 
while others originate in the throat. Of these utterances, the first, writes Mr. 
o 
Blanford, is “the shrill trumpet, varying in tone, and expressive, sometimes of 
fear, sometimes of anger. Secondly, a roar from the throat caused by fear or pain. 
A peculiar hoarse rumbling in the throat may express anger or want, as when 
a calf is calling for its mother. Pleasure is indicated by a continued low squeaking 
through the trunk. Lastly, there is a peculiar metallic sound made by rapping 
the end of the trunk on the ground and blowing through it at the same time. 
This indicates alarm or dislike, and is the well-known indication of a tiger’s 
presence.” 
The intelligence of the animal having been already sufficiently 
S 6 I 1 S 6 S ^ . 
discussed, all that need be said about its senses is that while smell 
is strongly developed, both sight and hearing appear to be by no means acute. 
At most seasons of the year the Indian elephant is a timid 
animal, much more ready to flee from a foe than to make an attack. 
Solitary “ rogues ” are, however, frequently an exception to this rule, and some¬ 
times make unprovoked attacks on passers-by. Indeed, there are instances on 
record where a “ rogue ” elephant has taken up a position near a road, and 
rendered it impassable to travellers. Females with calves are at all times 
dangerous to approach. Contrary to what is stated to be the case with the 
African species, when an Indian elephant makes a charge, it does so with its 
trunk tightly curled up, and it makes its attack by trampling its victim with its 
feet or knees, or, if a male, by pinning it to the ground with its tusks. At certain 
periods of the year the male elephant is subject to paroxysms of excitement, 
generally supposed to be due to sexual causes, and is then highly dangerous, not 
only to human beings, but to its fellow-animals.. The creature is then said to be 
mast, or mad; and the approach of such attacks is indicated by the copious flow 
of a dark tar-like liquid from two small orifices in the forehead. At the first 
indications of one of those seizures, domesticated elephants should be promptly 
secured. 
Not the least remarkable fact connected with elephants in 
captivity, is the circumstance that in India at least they very rarely 
breed when in this condition; thus showing what a profound effect the change 
from a wild to a domesticated mode of life must have on the animal’s entire 
organisation. It is stated, however, that in some parts of Burma and Siam, young 
are produced much more freely from captive females. The ordinary period of 
gestation is about nineteen months, but it appears that in some cases it may be 
a month less, while in others its duration may be as much as twenty-two months. 
As a rule, the young are born in the autumn, from September to November; and 
there is generally but one produced at a birth, although in rare instances twins 
occur. The new-born calf stands about a yard in height, and weighs about 
200 lbs.; it suckles its parent with its mouth, and not, as has sometimes been 
supposed, with its trunk. 
Breeding. 
