The elephant is a very slow-growing and long-lived animal, not arriving at maturity until upwards of thirty years of age; and since cases are on record of elephants having lived for upwards of 130 years in captivity in India, it is probable that in a wild state these animalsr both in Asia and Africa, often attain to an age of 150 years. The female elephant produces,. as a rule, but one calf at birth, the period of gestation lasting from eighteen to nearly twenty-two months. The mammse of the cow elephant are placed between the fore legs, and the, new-born calf sucks with its mouth, holding its trunk turned back over its head. I have seen elephant calves so engaged.

Although there is no reason to doubt that the African elephant is as intelligent as the- Asiatic species, its domestication has never been attempted by the Negro or Bantu races of Africa. It is believed, however, that the African elephant was in ancient times domesticated by the Carthaginians, and used by them in their wars with the Eomans. The opinion, too, is generally held that the elephants with which Hannibal crossed the Alps were of the African species, as well as those which, after the conquest of Carthage, were used in the Eoman amphitheatres and ismilitary pageants. On the other hand, it well to remember that the late Mr. W. Cotton Oswell, who had had great experience both with African and Asiatic elephants, wrote as follows on this subject: "I believe some people suppose the Carthaginians tamed and used the African elephant; they could hardly have had mahouts Indian fashion, for there is no marked depression in the nape of the neck for a seat, and the hemming of the ears when erected would have half smothered them. My Photo by J. W. McLdlan} [Highbury. knowledge does not allow me to raise any AFRICAN ELEPHANT. argument on this point; but might not the The difference in profile between this and the Indian species is noticeable forehead is receding and the ears much larger in the African species.same market have been open to the dwellers The

The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 179

-at Carthage as was afterwards to Mithridates, who, I suppose, drew his supply from India? I know in the representations of elephants on the medals of Faustina and of Septimus Severus the ears are African, though the bodies and heads are Indian; but these were struck nearly 400 years after Carthaginian times, when the whole known world had been ransacked by the Romans for beasts for their public shows; and I still think it possible that the Carthaginians the great traders and colonisers of old may have obtained elephants through some of their colonies from India."

An interesting example of the intelligence of these animals can be seen any day at the London Zoological Gardens. A large African elephant restores to his would-be entertainers all the biscuits, whole or broken, which strike the bars and fall alike out of his reach and theirs in Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] [Nmlh Finchley. the space between the barrier MALE AFRICAN ELEPHANT DRINKING. Note the great size of the tusks and base of the trunk.and his cage. He points his trunk at the biscuits, and floor to the feet of the persons who have thrown them. He clearly knows blows them hard along the what he is doing, because, if the biscuits do not travel far enough, he gives them a harder blow.

TAPIRS AND HYRAX.

BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S.

TAPIRS are -odd-looking creatures, and, strange as it may seem, are nevertheless related on the one hand to the rhinoceroses, and on the other to the horses. They are furthermore extremely interesting animals, because they have undergone less modification of form than any fossil tapirs,other members of the group to which they belong. This we know because belonging to a very remote period of the world's history, are practically indistinguishable from those now living. The general form of the body may perhaps be described as pig-like; the head, too, suggests that animal. But the pig's snout is here produced into a short proboscis, or trunk. 'The feet are quite unlike those of the pig, and resemble those of the rhinoceros. The fore feet have each four and the hind feet three toes; these are all encased in large horse-like 'hoofs. The tail is reduced to a mere stump.

Tapirs are shy and inoffensive animals, living in the seclusion of dense forests in the it is said that neighbourhood of water, in which element they are quite at home; indeed, they will frequently dive and walk along the bed of the river. They are also fond of

of the Worldi8o The Living Animals

wallowing in mud, partly, it is believed, that they may encase themselves with it as a the annoy- protection against ance of flies. They feed on shoots of trees, bushes, leaves, and fallen fruits, foraging during the evening, and possibly far into the night. Tapirs are hunted by the natives for the sake of their thick hides, which are cut into thongs for reins and bridles. The flesh also is esteemed by some. There are three methods of capture. In South America the lasso is used with occasional success. But

Photo by York & Son] {Notting Hill. MALAYAN TAPIR. when not foiled by under-from distinguished Is easily The largest of all the tapirs. the American tapirs by the patch of growth, the hunter often loses on the middle of white its body. his victim by reason of the it with dogs on violence and force of its rush, which snaps the thong. The Gauchos intercept it will fight furiously, and many dogs may be killed before its its way to the water, when dispatch is accomplished. Others imitate its peculiar, shrill call, and shoot it on its approach in answer thereto. Captives are easily tamed, and may be seen walking about the streets in many South American towns. They wander into the forest by day, returning in the evening it has to be fed, and are said to display great affection. On account of their great strength, been suggested that such captives should be used as beasts of burden. is black and white, tapirs are black or dark brown in Except the MALAYAN TAPIR, which colour, and but scantily clothed with hair; but the young, it is interesting to note, are spotted and striped with white or fawn-colour on a dark ground, a coloration recalling that of the wild pig. There are five different species of tapir. Their geographical distribution is remarkable, four species being South American, and one belonging to the Malayan region. But far back in the world's history, as we know from fossils, tapirs roamed over the warm and temperate regions of Europe, and their remains have been found in China and the United States. Thus the intervening gaps existing to-day have been made by the extinction of these intermediate species.

By nature the tapir appears to be a harmless and inoffensive animal, flying even before the smallest dog. Occasionally, however, it displays great courage and ferocity, and this appears to

At such times they will charge be especially the case with females deprived of their young. with great spirit, and knock down, trample on, and bite their victim after the fashion of wild swine. is the jaguar, as is the Man alone excepted, the most deadly foe of the AMERICAN TAPIR tiger of the Malay species. The American tapir often gets rid of the jaguar by rushing at full speed into the dense jungle, thus sweeping its assailant from its back, the jaguar's claws finding but an insecure hold on its victim's thick hide. Tapirs are often found bearing scars all over the back, witnessing the terrible nature of the wounds received at such times.

That the tapir is a comparatively unknown animal is partly accounted for by the fact that it is but little sought after by the big-game hunter who finds more excitement in pursuit of its larger relative the rhinoceros and partly, perhaps, owing to its inhabiting regions comparatively little visited by Europeans. Nevertheless, the tapir is an animal of quite peculiar interest, having undergone but little change during long ages, whilst its ally the horse has

The Elephant, Tapir, Hyrax, and Rhinoceros 181

effected in the same time a complete transformation, not only in its general shape, but more especially in its teeth and feet. The gradual steps by which this transformation has been fossil forms, of which we can say little here.brought about we can trace through certain

Amongst these fossils occur remains of an animal bearing a very strong resemblance to the living tapir, but which, strangely enough, is not really so closely related thereto as to the horses. It does not, however, stand in the direct line of descent of these latter, but must be regarded as representing a collateral branch thereof. The occurrence of this distinct tapir-like animal is of great scientific interest.

The short, stout legs and spreading toes of the living tapirs, rhinoceroses, and ancestral horse are admirably adapted for plodding deliberately over soft and yielding ground, such as is afforded by reed-beds and banks of rivers, or the shady depths of forests. Speed in such surroundings is not necessary, food in plenty being always at hand, and escape from enemies being sought by concealment in thick herbage rather than flight. With a migration to drier and higher plains, the spreading foot has undergone a change. The short legs and numerous toes have given place to long ones, and of the several toes growth has taken place in one only the third; whilst the others have slowly dwindled, till eventually only traces of the second and fourth remain, as in the modern horse. Thus has a firmer support over hard, unyielding ground been brought about, and great speed gained. The animals with this type of foot (in which the third is the largest toe) are known as the Odd-toed Hoofed Animals. The pigs, sheep, deer, and oxen have gained an equally efficient foot, yet retaining four toes. Of these, the third and fourth are equal in size, and serve as a support to the body, whilst the second and fifth have now become functionless, and do not reach the ground. This type of foot characterises that group of the hoofed animals known as the Even-toed.

THE HYRAX.

This is one of the most remarkable of living mammals, and one of the greatest puzzles to zoologists, having no near living relatives. Though bearing some resemblance to an earless rabbit, it really belongs to the hoofed animals, and amongst them comes perhaps somewhat nearer the rhinoceros than to any other animal. It is the CONEY of the Bible. It inhabits the rocky districts Photo by G. W. Wilson Co., Ltd.} [Aberdeen. of Syria and parts of Africa. COMMON AMERICAN TAPIR. It is a vegetable-feeder, and This tapir inhabits tropical America. It is a nocturnal animal, frequenting the depths very wary. About a dozen of shady forests in the neighbourhood of water, to which it frequently resorts for the purpose of species are known. bathing, or as a refuge from pursuit.

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