or the ELEPHANT, in zoology, a genus of quadrupeds belonging to the order of bovinae. The characters are these: The elephant has no fore-teeth in either jaw, and the dog-teeth are very long; the proboscis, or trunk, is long, and capable of laying hold of any thing; and the body is somewhat naked.

The elephant is the largest of all land-animals. From the front to the origin of the tail he is generally about 16 feet long, from the end of the trunk 25 feet, and about 14 feet high. The circumference of the neck is 17 feet, and the circumference of the body at the greatest part 25 feet 10 inches; the tail is about 6 feet long, and 2½ in circumference. The circumference of the legs is about 6 feet. The eyes are small in proportion to the size of the animal. The muzzle is very different from that of any other quadruped; it is nothing but the origin of a long trunk which hangs between the two large tusks; the mouth appears behind the trunk, which serves in place of an upper lip, and the under lip terminates in a point. The tail is short, and small in comparison of the trunk, which has the appearance of a long thick tail placed before. The feet are short, round, clumsy, and only distinguishable by the toes. The trunk is properly speaking, the nose extended, and terminated by a couple of nostrils. But, besides serving as an organ of smell, the trunk performs all the functions of a strong and dexterous arm. The trunk of an elephant is about 8 feet long, 5½ feet in circumference near the mouth, and one foot and a half near the extremity: it is a pipe of an irregular conical figure, and widened at the end: the superior side of the trunk is convex, and furrowed transversely; and the inferior side is flat, and has two longitudinal rows of small protuberances resembling the tentacula of the silk-worm and most other caterpillars. The upper part of the trunk corresponds with the extremity of the nose in other quadrupeds, and answers the same intention; the inferior part serves as an upper lip, including the nostrils at the same time. For the trunk is a continued canal, divided into two cavities by a longitudinal partition: these cavities ascend along the forepart of the upper jaw, where they make a turn inward, and descend into the palate, and then terminate in two separate orifices; they have likewise each a separate orifice at the end of the trunk. At the place where these cavities make a turn, and before they enter into the bones of the head, there is a moveable cartilaginous plate situate in such a manner as enables the animal to shut the canal, and to prevent the water, with which it occasionally fills the trunk, from entering into the passage of the nose where the organs serving for the sensation of smell are placed. The elephant can move the trunk in all directions; he can extend or shorten it at pleasure, without altering the diameters of the two canals within. By this means respiration is not interrupted, whatever be the situation of the trunk; and the water is allowed to remain till the animal chooses to throw it out by an expiration. Each canal is lined with a smooth strong membrane, and the surface of the trunk is covered with another strong membrane or skin. The substance contained between the exterior and interior membranes, is a composition of longitudinal and transverse Elephant, verse muscles, which serve to extend and contract the length of the trunk. At the extremity of the trunk there is a concave protuberance, in the bottom of which are the two passages of the nostrils. The inferior part of the protuberance is thicker than the sides, and the superior part is stretched out like a finger about five inches long; which, together with the edges of the whole extremity of the trunk, takes on different figures according to the necessities of the animal. It is by this organ that the animal lays hold of food, or other substances; which he manages with as much dexterity as a man does his hand, taking up grains of corn, or the smallest piles of grass, and conveying them to his mouth. When he drinks, he thrusts his trunk into the water, and fills it by drawing in his breath, and exhausting the air: when the trunk is thus filled with water, he can either throw it out to a great distance, or drink it by putting the end of the trunk in his mouth.

The two large tusks, which some call the horns of the elephant, are of a yellowish colour, and extremely hard. The bony substance of which they are composed is known by the name of ivory, and much used in different branches of manufacture.

The ears are very large, and resemble those of an ape. The skin of the elephant has but few hairs on it, and placed at great distances from each other. It is full of wrinkles, like those on the palm of a man's hand, besides many shaped and greasy ridges. The female has two teats, one on each side of the breast. The parts of generation are small in proportion to those of other animals. The penis resembles that of a horse. The female organ is situated near the middle of the belly, more than two feet distant from the usual situation in other quadrupeds: when they copulate, the female lies down on her back.

Elephants, even in a savage state, are peaceable and gentle creatures. They never use their weapons but in defence of themselves or companions. Their social dispositions are so strong, that they are seldom found alone, but march always in large troops: the oldest and most experienced lead the van; the younger, or lame ones, keep in the middle; and those of a second rate, as to age, walk in the rear. The females carry their young on their tusks, embracing them at the same time with their trunk. They seldom march in this regular order but when they reckon the journey dangerous, such as an expedition to cultivated lands, where they expect to meet with resistance. On other occasions they are less cautious; some of them falling behind or separating from the rest, but seldom so far as to be without the reach of assistance by alarming and assembling their companions. It is only these wanderers that the hunters dare attack: for it would require a whole army to assail a troop of them; and even an army would be unable to conquer them without losing a number of lives. It is dangerous to offer them the least injury: for they run straight upon the offender; and, although the weight of their body be great, their steps are so large, that they easily outrun the swiftest man, whom they either pierce with their tusks, or seize with their trunk, dart him in the air like a stone, and then trample him under their feet. But they never attack any person, unless when provoked. However, as they are extremely sensible and delicate with regard to injuries, it is always prudent to keep out of their way. Travelers who frequent these countries kindle large fires, and beat drums during the night, in order to prevent their approach. After being once attacked by men, or falling into any ambush, they are said never to forget the injury, but search for every opportunity of getting revenge. As they are endowed perhaps with a more exquisite sensation of smell than any other animal, owing to the great extent of their nose, they can scent a man at a very great distance, and trace him by his footsteps.

Elephants are peculiarly fond of the banks of rivers, deep valleys, and marshy grounds, especially when well shaded with trees. They delight in drawing up water into their trunks, even when they do not drink it, and amuse themselves in dashing the water around. They cannot endure cold, and are equally averse to an excess of heat: in order to avoid the scorching heat of the sun, they retire to the thickest and most shady parts of the forest. The bulk of their bodies is so enormous, that they do not choose to go into deep waters so frequently as some other quadrupeds; although the length of their trunk, which they raise straight up, and by which they respire, is a great advantage in swimming.

The ordinary food of elephants is roots, herbs, leaves, the tender branches of trees, fruits, and grains: but they abhor flesh or fish. When any of them discovers a fine pasture, he immediately calls and invites his companions to come and eat with him. As they devour a large quantity of food in a short time, they are always shifting their pasture; when they meet with cultivated grounds, they make a prodigious defoliation, and destroy more plants by their feet than they use for nourishment; which last is very considerable, amounting to 150 pounds of herbage every day: by this means, as they constantly graze in large troops, they lay waste whole fields in an hour. The Indians and negroes employ every art to prevent them from visiting their cultivated lands, making great noises, and burning large fires round their fields. However, these precautions are not always sufficient to prevent the elephants from visiting them. They chase away the domestic animals, put the men to flight, and sometimes even throw down their timber huts. Elephants are hardly susceptible of fear; the only things which can surprise them, or stop their course, are artificial fires, such as squibs, crackers, &c., the effects of which are so sudden and so quickly repeated, that the elephants frequently turn back; and when one runs, all the rest instantly follow his example.

Although the social disposition in the elephant be exceeding strong; yet whenever the females come in season, it immediately gives place to the stronger and more interesting passion of love. They observe the greatest delicacy in their amours, abhorring nothing so much as to be seen by their companions. The troop divide themselves into couples, steal off into the most secret places of the forest, and then give way to all the impulses of nature, which are lively and lasting in proportion to the long period of abstinence; for the female goes with young two years, and it is only once in three years that the season of love returns. They bring forth but one at a time; which, as soon as it comes into the world, is as large as a wild boar, and is furnished with teeth; however, the large tusks do not make Elephant: their appearance till some time after, and at the age of six months they are several inches long. Elephants of this age are as large as an ox, when in a natural state. But it is incredible how they degenerate when inflamed and under the management of men. Their disgust and chagrin for the loss of liberty seems never to depart from their minds. In this state, though they feel, at the proper seasons, the strongest desires for the sex, no art can allure them to copulate; but the natural passion, restrained by an excess of modesty, bursts out into such violent fits of fury and resentment, that the strongest chains are hardly sufficient to command them. This is a striking difference between the elephant and most other tamed animals. It is only the individual that we can enslave; the species, in spite of all our endeavours, still retain their original freedom and independence.

The manner of taking and taming elephants, therefore, merits our attention. In forests and such places as are frequented by elephants, the Indians choose a spot and inclose it with strong palliades; they use the largest trees as the principal stakes, to which are fixed smaller ones in a transverse direction. These crois-trees are fixed so as to allow a man to pass easily through. There is likewise a large port left for the elephant, over which is suspended a strong barrier, which is let down as soon as he enters. In order to decoy him into the inclosure, the hunters take along with them a tame female in season, and travel about till they come so near as that the cry of the female can reach a male, whom they previously observe in the forest; then the guide of the female makes her give the cry peculiar to the season of love; the male instantly replies, and sets out in quest of her. The guide then makes the female proceed towards the artificial inclosure, repeating her cries from time to time as she goes along. She enters into the inclosure, the male follows her, and the Indians immediately shut the port behind him. He no sooner discovers the hunters, and that he is inclosed, than his passion for the sex is converted into rage and fury. The hunters entangle him with strong ropes; they fetter his legs and trunk; they bring two or three tame elephants in order to pacify and reconcile him to his condition. In a word, they reduce him to obedience in a few days, by a proper application of torture and caresses. There are many other methods of catching elephants. Instead of making large inclosures with palliades, like the kings of Siam, and other monarchs, the poor Indians content themselves with a very simple apparatus: they dig deep pits in the roads frequented by elephants, covering them over with branches of trees, turf, &c. When an elephant falls into one of these pits, he is unable to get out again.

The elephant, when tamed, is the most friendly and obedient of all animals; he is entirely attached to the person who feeds and takes care of him. In a short time he understands signs, and the sound of his master's voice. He distinguishes the language of passion, of command, of satisfaction; and acts accordingly. He receives his orders with attention, and executes them with prudence and alacrity, but without precipitation. He easily learns to bow his knees and lower his body, for the convenience of those who mount him. He caresses his friends with his trunk. He lifts burdens with his trunk, and assists those who are loading him in laying them on his back. He delights in shining harnesses and trappings. When yoked in a cart or waggon, he pulls equally and cheerfully, unless he be abused by injudicious chastisements. His guide is generally mounted on his neck, with a small rod of iron sharp at the point in his hand; he directs his motion by pricking him on the ears and head; but, for the most part, a word is sufficient.

A tame elephant will do more labour than six horses; but then he requires a proportional quantity of food. They are the principal beasts of burden in many parts of Africa and the East Indies. They carry sacks and bundles of all kinds on their neck, back, and tusks. They never lose or damage anything committed to their care: they will stand on the edge of a river, take bundles off their necks and tusks, lay them carefully in a boat wherever they are desired, and try with their trunk whether they are properly situated; if they be loaded with casks, they go in quest of stones to prop them and prevent them from rolling.

The elephant is not only the most tractable, but the most intelligent, of animals; sensible of benefits, resentful of injuries, and endowed even with a sense of glory.—In India, they were once employed in the launching of ships: one was directed to force a very large vessel into the water; the work proved superior to his strength: his master, with a sarcastic tone, bid the keeper take away this lazy beast and bring another: the poor animal instantly repeated his efforts, fractured his skull, and died on the spot. In Delhi, an elephant passing along the streets, put his trunk into a tailor's shop, where several people were at work: one of them pricked the end with his needle: the beast passed on; but in the next dirty puddle filled his trunk with water, returned to the shop, and spouting every drop among the people who had offended him, spoilt their work.

An elephant in Aden, which often passed through the bazaar or market, as he went by a certain herb-woman, always received from her a mouthful of greens: at length he was seized with one of his periodical fits of rage, broke his fetters, and, running through the market, put the crowd to flight; among others, this woman, who in haste forgot a little child she had brought with her. The animal recollecting the spot where his benefactress was wont to sit, took up the infant gently in his trunk, and placed it in safety on a stall before a neighbouring house. Another, in his madness, killed his cornac or governor: the wife seeing the misfortune, took her two children and flung them before the elephant, saying, "Now you have destroyed their father, you may as well put an end to their lives and mine." It instantly stopped, relented, took the greatest of the children, placed him on its neck, adopted him for its cornac, and never afterwards would permit any body else to mount it.

At the Cape of Good-Hope, it is customary to kill those animals, for the sake of their teeth, by the chase. Three horsemen, well-mounted and armed with lances, attack the elephant alternately, each relieving the other as they see their companion pressed, till the beast is p. 166 subdued. Three Dutchmen (brothers), who had made large fortunes by this business, determined to retire to Europe, and enjoy the fruits of their labours; but resolved, before they went, to have a last chance by way of amusement: they met with their game, and began... the attack in the usual manner; but unfortunately one of their horses fell down and flung its rider: the enraged animal instantly seized the unhappy man with its trunk, flung him up to a vast height in the air, and received him on one of its tusks; then turning towards the two other brethren, as if it were with an aspect of revenge and insult, held out to them the impaled wretch wreathing on the bloody tooth.

From the earliest accounts in history, the eastern nations have employed elephants in war; Alexander the Great was the first European who ever mounted an elephant. He carried a number of them into Greece, which Pyrrhus employed some years after against the Romans at the battle of Tarentum. Both the Greeks and Romans soon learnt to get the better of these monstrous animals: they opened their ranks and allowed them to pass through; neither did they attempt to hurt them, but threw darts, &c. at their guides. Now that fire-arms are the principal instruments of war, elephants, who are terrified at the noise and flame, instead of being useful, would only tend to embarrass and confuse an army. However, in Cochin and other parts of Malabar, as also in Tonquin, Siam, and Pegu, where fire-arms are little understood, they are still used in battle. The guide sits astride upon the neck, and the combatants sit or stand upon the other parts of the body.

When the elephant is properly managed, he lives very long even in a state of slavery and labour. That some have lived in this state 130 years, is pretty well authenticated. In a natural state, they often exceed 200 years, and propagate their species till they are 120: It is 30 years before they come to their full growth.

The elephant inhabits India, and some of its greater islands, Cochin China, and some of the provinces of China. It abounds in the southern parts of Africa, from the river Senegal to the Cape; and from thence as high as Ethiopia on the other side. They are found in the greatest numbers in the interior parts, where there are vast forests, near the sides of rivers. They are not at present domesticated in Africa, but only in the more civilized parts of Asia. They are much more numerous in Africa. In some parts they swarm so, that the Negroes are obliged to make their habitations underground for fear of them. They are killed and eaten by the natives, and the trunk is said to be a delicious morsel. All the teeth are brought from Africa: they are frequently picked up in the woods; so that it is uncertain whether they are fished teeth, or those of dead animals. The African teeth which come from Mozambique, are 10 feet long; those of Malabar only three or four; the largest in Asia are those of Cochin China, which even exceed the size of the elephants of Mozambique. The skin is thick, and, when dressed, proof against a musket ball. The flesh, the gall, the skin, and the bones, are said to be used medicinally by the Chinese.