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
us inability to see perfectly has been
demonstrated on numerous occas. Ons
Whsu attacked by hunters. One would
suppose that a man in contact with
Sucn huge body was doomed, but ex-
Perlence has shown that the hunter I'M
DER foot has d better chances of escape
| than one directly in front Of the en-
RACED 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 nfuriated monster crashing away
in a panic.
The absolute terror and cowardice
OF an elephant when confronted by
something 1t cannot see and does not
understand is both pit1ful and ludic-
rous. One instance is cited where q
scotch terrier seized the trunk Of q
tame elephant in Its teeth and instant
~ brought the huge creature to its
knees. When the dog repeated the at
tack the elephant reiterated in q panic
and would probably have broken down
the building in its frantic efforts to get
away II the keeper had not interfered
Ihelr feet are very tender and they are
always apprehensive Of injury to them
which may 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 aNpear was pointed at
his head, followed by shrinking tinid-
lty when the same weapon was pointed
at its feet.
Habits of the Monster.
A herd of elephants travelling to-
gether IS family, not a company col
lected by chance or associated together
by accident. Each group of animals
IS governed by a leader who plans Their
WandeT1ngs, recOnnOiterS in case OF
alarm, and advances to lead the de-
tense IN case Of attack. An elephant
IS capable of concealing its huge bulk
In an Incredibly small space, and can
swiftly traverse the narrowest path
provided it renders sure footing When
surprised in the jungle it will make a
momentary rush with great noise, fol-
lowed by sudden and absolute stiffness.
The inexperienced invariably suppose
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 a
trail-an astonishing performance for
such gigantic animal.
AIliOuSu the SlepnanL IS so ponder
Gus II has a gentle disposition Tt lives
on terms Of amity with all animals of
the forest, neither regarding them as
its foe nor provoking their hostility bv
attack. 1t shows no Impotence in the
company of the elk. the bear or the
wild hog, and none of these animals
evince any recruitment toward the eIe-
phant but let some animal appear in
the jungle whose form is not familiar,
and q wild rush instantly follows.
"Black Sheep" of the Jungle.
Those known as rogue" elephants
do not share the docfle temperament
of the rest of the herd.
The rogue" IS a single animal which
for some reason has been denied asso-
citation with its family, and which is
never allowed to attach itself to a
strange group. Tt may browse in the
same neighbOrhood and frequent the
same water hole, but the intercourse is
never allowed TO develop into familiar
ty. Left to itself the animal seems
% become reckless and desperate. It |
spends its night IN marauding, tramp |
ing down crops and doing great dam |
lge to property. These outcasts are +
generally males. and two of them are
never seen together It is believed that /
4 tame elephant escaping from captiv- /
ty invariably becomes a rogue" on /
lccount OF being unable to join its for
per companions or TO make new aln- /
nnces. i
ECautions and curiosity are strong
4aits IN the elephant. Surveying par |
Sss engaged in opening roads through
" forest frequently find their wooden