The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1910-07-22

-
well-known English naturalist,
speaking of elephants In re-
cent article In the London Daily
Telegraph. says:
In the novel by that clever
but contradictions writer, Sam Butler,
entitled 1.-THE Way of the Flesh" an
amiable and philosophically minded old
gentleman who pervades the story.
states that when one feels worried or
depressed by the incidents OF ones
daily life, great comfort may be de-
rived from an hour spent at the
geological gardens In company with
the larger mammalia. He ascribes to
them remarkable soothing influence,
and | am inclined to agree with him.
] am not prepared to decide whether
the effect is due to the example of pa
thence under adversely offered by these
animals, or whether 1t is perhaps their
tranquil Indifference to everything but
food. coupled with their magnificent
success in attaining to such dignity OF
size. which imposes upon me and fills
me for brief space with resignation
and childlike acquiescence in things
rs they are. The elephant stands first
ms soothing influence. and then the
giraffe, the latter having special pow
ers, due to its beautiful eyes and
agreeable perfume. Sometimes the
hippopotamus may diifuse charm of
his own. an aura OF rotund obesity,
especially when he is bathing or sleep
| htff to knn AM
has to fee from his presence | never
could get on very well with rhin-
ocerses. but the large deer, bison and
wild cattle have the quality detected
by Mr.. Butler. SO has the gorgeous.
well-grown tiger. in full measure.
when he purrs In answer to ones
voice. but the lion is pompous, ir-
ritable and easily upset He never
purrs. He is unpleasantly and OBJ
scurely spotted He seems to be
afraid OF losing his dignity and to be
conscious OF the fact that his reputa-
ton depends on the overpowering wig
which he now wears, though his Mace
donion forerunner had no such growth
to give an Elusive appearance Of size
i
opinions may differ about these things.
nll win ngree that the elephant Tor
'oliphnnt. as he was called In France
400 years ngo) is the most imposing.
fascinating and astonishing OF all AMI.
mails.
At the present day there are two
species only OF elephant existing on
the earth's surface. There are the In.
dian tcellod Elephas Indicus. but
sometimes called Elephns mnximus on
account of the priority which belongs
TO that designation. although the In.
dian elephant Is smaller than the 9th.
ERR and the African (callod Elephns
| Afrlcnnusl. In the wild state their
area Of occupation has become great.
ly diminished within historic times.
The Indian elephant was hunted In
Mesopo,amla In the twelfth century.
H. C.. and Egyptian drawings OF this
species brough, ms tribute by Syrian
yassuls Today the Indian elephant
Is confined 10 certain forests OF Hin.
doostnn, Coylou. Burma and Siam, The
| African elephant extended 100 years
ngo al over South Africa. and In the
days Of the Carthaginlnns was found
near the Mediterranean shore. wllst
IN prehistoric tlate plolstocenol times
II existed In the south Of Spain and In
Sicily Now II is confined to the more
central and equatorial zone OF Africa.
md Is yearly rcccdinR before the In.
cursions and destructive attacks of
civilized man.
Al no great distance Of time before
the historic period. earlier. indeed,
than the time Of the hordsmcn who
used polished stone implements and
raised great stone circles. namely. In
the late pleiHtoceno period. we find
that there existed all over Europe and
North Asia and the northern part Of
America another elephant very close.
ly allied to the Indian elephant but
having n bow,llko outward curvature
of the tuakR. their tnakH finally direct.
ed towards one another, and thick
growth Of coarse hair all over the
body This ia the mammoth. the 70.
mains Of which are found In every
river valley In England. France and
Germany, and OF which whole carcanca
nrc frequently discovered In northern
siberia, preserved from decay In the
frozen river grayoln and silt The.
ancient cnyomcn Of France used the
fresh tuAka Of the mammoth killed ON
the hpot for their carving shnd en-
cravings, and from their time to this
day ivory Of the mammoth hna been
and fomaina In constant use. Il IN o..
timnted that during the last two cen,
.urien at least a hundred pairs OF