The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-21
PRORIsnJDIA

In the August number of the Popular Sci
ence Monthly in an article on the Mental
Capacity of Elephants" William T. Horna-
day takes very advanced ground as to their
capabilities A prominent naturalist thus
arranges the order of intelligence in animals,
beginning with man:
Bimana, higher man only, however,
Quadrumana, especially the larger anthro-
poid apes.
Carnivora, including especially the dog and
cat
Probiscidia the elephant.
Ungulata, especially the horse, mule and
ass
Rodentia especially the beaver and rat
The author seemingly rates the elephant
above the dog and next only to the Chin
panzee. He maintains that the dog has
great advantage over the elephant. While
ters house and outdoor premises,
through town and country, minglng
freely with all kinds of men and domestic
animals, with unlimited time and liberty to
lay plans and execute them, the elephant in
captivity is chained to a stake. with no lib
erty of action whatever, aside from eating
and drinking, and amusinghimself by sway
ing his body, swinging one foot or switching
his tail. There is no telling, the writer
thinks, what wonderful powers of reasoning
captive elephants might develope, if they
could only enjoy the freedom allowed dogs.
Speculations in this direction are ruthlessly
hemmed in by the impossibility of extend
ing the same hospitality to the elephant that
Is now accorded the dog. The lady who fon-
dies and pets a pug cannot, in the nature of
things, nurse an elephant, even though it be
baby elephant. Nobody would want an ele-
plant curled up by the stove, nor would they
want one to sneak under the bed when told
emphatically to go out doors. 1t would be
unhandy for an elephant to scratch his back
with his hind leg, especially if he were under
the dinner-table at the time the flea made its
presence known. Nor would it be altogether
pleasant to have a pet elephant jump upon
the bed in the morning and whine to be cud-
died under the covers. 1t would be a source
of great annoyance to have your elephant
jump over a neighbours back fence and chase
his cat up cherry tree or under the buggy
shed. And suppose some boy should catch
your elephant down town and tie
deserted UPSTREAM to his tail,
how would you feel to have him
come tearing down the avenue and disturb
ing the peace and quiet of the whole arron-
basement? Nor would it do to accidentally
lock the elephant in the dining-room while
the family went to camp-meeting. 1t ought
to be apparent that any proposition to sub
stitute elephants for dogs, or to give them
the same social privileges, must be frowned
down as mpolitic and not to be thought OF.
Mr.. Hornaday refers to the natural sa-
gacity of the elephant as something marvel
ously intelligent. In their wild state ele-
plants will reconnoiter dangerous ground by
sending out a scout or spy, will communicate
intelligence by signs, retreat in orderly
silence from a lurking danger, and invaria-
bly, march in single file, like the jungle
tribes of men. He cites the following in
Having on one occasion in hunting ele-
plants approached to within fifty wards of
the stragglers of large herd of about thirty
animals, which was scattered over about four
acres of very open forest and quietly feed
ing. certain individuals of the herd on the
side nearest us suddenly suspected danger.
One of them elevated his trunk with the tip
bent forward, and scented the air from vari-
GUS points OF the compass, a sure sign of
danger suspected. moment later an old
elephant left the herd and started straight
for our ambush, seeming the air with
appraised trunk as he slowly and
noiselessy advanced. We instantly re-
treated, unobseryed and unheard, and the
elephant advanced until he reached the iden-
teal spot where we had a moment before
been concealed. He paused stood motion
less as a statue for about two minutes then
wheeled about and quickly but noiselessly
reioined the herd. In less than half min
ute the whole herd was in motion, heading
directly away from U.S. moving very rapidly
but without the slightest noise. The huge
animals simply vanished like shadows into
the forest. The entire herd formed in single
file before proceeding quarter of a mile, and
continued strictly in that order for several
miles. In strong contrast with the stealthy
and noiseless manner in which elephants
steal away from a lurking danger or ambush
discovered, from an open attack, accompa-
MED with the noise OF firearms they rush
away at headlong speed, quite regardless Of
the noise they make. On one occasion
herd which was designing to attack, and
had approached to within forty yards on one
side, as. they were feeding in Some thick
bushes, discovered my presence and retreated
so silently that they had been gone five min
utes before discovered what their sudden
quietude really meant. In this instance,
also, the alarm was communicated by silent
signals or sign language"
The writer then recounts some thirty three
accomplishments, or commands, that they
have learned, The working elephants of