The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-14

shade is caused partly by weak eyes.
All hunters agree that it relies more
on the ear and the sense of smell than
on its sight
It's inability to see perfectly has been
demonstrated on numerous Occas- Ons
when attacked by hunters. One would
suppose that a man in contact with
SUCH a huge body was doomed, but eX-
perience has shown that the hunter I'M
der foot has d better chances Of escape
than one directly in front of the en-
ragged animal. The attention of an ele
plant in the act of trampling any
thing under foot is easily diverted. A
noise at one side, or the touch Of an
Overhanging branch, is likely to send
the infuriated monster crashing away
in q panic.
The absolute terror and cowardice
Of an elephant when confronted by
something it cannot see and does not
understand is both pit1ful and ludic-
rous. One instance is cited where a
scotch terrier seized the trunk Of a
tame elephant in its teeth and instant
ly brought the huge creature to its
knees. When the dog repeated the at
tack the elephant retreated in a panic
and would probably have broken down
the building in its frantic efforts to get
away if the keeper had not interfered.
always apprehensive Of injury to them,
which NAV be an explanation Of their
dread of dogs. An illustration of the
sensitiveness Of an elephants feet has
been observed by a tame animals in
difference when spear was pointed at
his head. followed by shrinking timid-
ity when the same weapon was pointed
at its feet.
Habits Of the Monster.
A herd of elephants travelling to-
gether is a family. not a company col
! lected by chance or associated together
/ by accident. Each group of animals
/ is governed by a leader who plans then
wanderings, recOnnOiters in case OF
/ alarm, and advances. to lead the de-
/ Tense in case of attack. An elephant
/ is capable of cOncealing its huge bull
/ in an Incredibly small space, and car
/ swiftly traverse the narroWest patti
/ provided il renders sure footing. WheT
/ surprised in the jungle it will make
/ mOmentary rush with great noise, fol
/ lowed by sudden and absolute stiffness
! The inexperienced invariably suppos'
/ that the prey has halted to ascertain
] the cause of alarm, but investigation
reveals that the quarry has escaped
/ without making a sound or leaving
/ trail-an astonishing performance TO
such a gigantic animal.
Although the elephant is so ponder
Gus it has a gentle disposition. Tt live
/ on terms Of amity with all animals o
/ the forest, neither regarding them a
/ its foe nor provoking their hostility b,
attack 1t shows no Impotence in tn
! company of the elk, the bear or tn
/ wild hog, and none of these animal
/ evince any recruitment toward the ele
nhant. but let some animal appear il
! the Jungle whose form is not familiar
and q wild rush instantly follows.
"Black Sheep" of the Jungle.
Those known as rogue" elephant
/ do not share the docile Temperament
characteristic Of the rest Of the hero
/ The rogue" IS q single animal whic
/ for some reason has been denied asso
citation with it's family, and which
! never allowed to attach itself to
/ strange group. It may browse in tn
same neighborhood and frequent IN
! same water hole, but the intercourse
never allowed to develop into familiar
itv Left to Itself the animal seem
n become reckless and desperate.
spends its night in marauding, tramp
ling down crops and doing great dam
age to property. These outcasts ar
/ generally males. and two Of them ar
i never seen together. Tt is believed tha
q tame elephant escaping from captiv
ity tnvaria bly, becomes rogue" o
account Of being unable to join It's fOI
4 uaer COMPANIONS or to make new ALI
Caution and curiosity are stron
( rats in the elephant. Surveying par
!. ties engaged In opening roads throug
the forest frequently find their woode