QUADRUPEDS. 91 
shape, have the flaps hanging down, instead of standing 
up, as in most quadrupeds. The Elephant is a gregarious 
animal in his wild state, and when domesticated is suscep- 
tible of attachment and gratitude, as well as of anger and 
revenge. Several anecdotes are related of his quick ap- 
prehension, and chiefly of the vindictive treatment he 
uses against those who have either scoffed at or abused 
him. To disappoint him is dangerous, as he seldom fails 
to be revenged. The following instance is given as a 
fact, and deserves to be recorded: An Elephant, disap- 
pointed of his reward, out of revenge, killed his governor. 
The poor man's wife, who beheld the dreadful scene, took 
her two infants and threw them at the feet of the enraged 
animal, saying, " Since you have slain my husband, take 
my life also, as well as those of my children I" The Ele- 
phant instantly stopped, relented, and, as if stung with 
remorse, took the eldest boy in its trunk, placed him on its 
neck, adopted him for its governor, and would never al- 
low any other person to mount him. 
The Elephant's mouth is armed with broad and strong 
grinding teeth, and two large tusks, which measure some- 
times nine or ten feet. From these tusks all that ivory can 
ever produce of fine exquisite workmanship is made. The 
ivory from the tusks of the female is thought the best, as 
the tooth, being smaller, admits less porosity in the cellu- 
lar part of the mass. 
Becoming tame under the mild treatment of a good 
master, the Elephant is not only a most useful servant, for 
the purposes of state or war, but is also of great help in 
taming the wild ones that have been recently caught. 
The Hindostan superstition has paid great honours 
to the white race of this quadruped ; and the island 
of Ceylon is supposed to breed the finest of the kind. This 
immense beast, by the wisdom of Providence, has not 
been placed among the carnivorous animals : and vegeta- 
ble food being much more abundant than animal, he is 
