tudes than from ambulation. And therefore the tyranny of some have tormented men with long and enforced station; and though Ixion and Sisyphus, which always moved, do seem to have the hardest measure, yet was not Tityus favoured, that lay extended upon Caucasus, and Tantalus suffered somewhat more than thirst, that stood perpetually in hell. Thus Mercurialis, in his Gymnastics, justly makes standing one kind of exercise: and Galen, when we lie down, commends unto us middle figures, that is, not to lie directly, or at length, but somewhat inflected, that the muscles may be at rest; for such as he termeth hypobolemaioi, or figures of excess, either shrinking up or stretching out, are weari some positions, and such as perturb the quiet of those parts. Now various parts do variously discover these indolent and quiet positions, some in right lines, as the wrists; some at right angles, as the cubit; others at oblique angles, as the fingers and knees: all resting satisfied in postures of moderation, and none enduring the extremity of flexure or extension.2

Moreover, men herein do strangely forget the obvious relations of history, affirming they have no joints, whereas they daily read of several actions which are not performable without them. They forget what is delivered by Xiphilinus, and also by Suetonius, in the lives of Nero and Galba, that elephants have been instructed to walk on ropes, in public shows, before the people: which is not 'easily performed by man, and requireth not only a broad foot, but a pliable flexure of joints, and commandable disposure of all parts of progres sion. They pass by that memorable place in Curtius, con cerning the elephant of King Porus; Indus qui elephantem regebat, descendere eum ratus, more solito procumbere jussit

9 From which, &c.] N.B. et cave! The mischeef which cometh by standing long (as at studyes) appears in old age, by the swelling of the legs, and (ofttimes) the gout.-Wr.

Would not Darwin have said that this swelling was no other than the appetency of the leg towards an attainment of the columnar formation of the elephantine leg-an appetency excited by the stationary discipline of its studious owner, the dean?

cubit.] The fore-arm.

2 Now various parts, &c.] This sentence was first added in the 2nd edit.

in genua, cæteri quoque (ita enim instituti erant) demisere corpora in terram. They remember not the expression of Osorius,* when he speaks of the elephant presented to Leo X.; Pontificem ter genibus flexis, et demisso corporis habitu venerabundus salutavit. But above all, they call not to mind that memorable show of Germanicus, wherein twelve elephants danced unto the sound of music, and after laid them down in the tricliniums, or places of festival recumbency.

They forget the etymology of the knee, approved by some grammarians. They disturb the position of the young ones in the womb; which upon extension of legs is not easily conceivable, and contrary unto the general contrivance of nature. Nor do they consider the impossible exclusion thereof, upon extension and rigour of the legs.3

4

Lastly, they forget or consult not experience, whereof not + Γόνυ from γωνία.

* De rebus gestis Emanuelis.

66

3 They forget, &c.] This paragraph was first added in the 2nd edit. they forget or consult not experience, &c.] This will be the proper place to make a remark or two on the modern history and prevalence of this tale, that the legs of the elephant are devoid of joints. In the volume on the elephant, published in the Menageries of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, are some quotations on the subject from early English works, for which the compiler of that volume is indebted to Steevens's notes on Shakspeare, though he does not acknowledge it. In a curious specimen of our early natural history, The Dialogues of Creatures Moralyzed, is mention, Steevens informs us, of "the olefawnte that bowyth not the kneys." In the play of All Fools, 1605, occurs this passage: I hope you are no elephant-you have joints." Shakspeare, in his Troilus and Cresside, 1609, makes Ulysses say (act ii. sc. 3), "The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy: his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure." In All's Lost by Lust, 1633, a woman is said to be ́stubborn as an elephant's leg-no bending in her." It will not follow from these expressions, that the authors of all the works in which they appear were actually believers in this story; nor could it be proved from them that it was generally believed at the times when they wrote; for, with respect to the three plays, the allusion may be regarded as founded only on the known prevalence, at some period, of the belief in question. Still, even these evince, at least, the former existence of the notion, as well as its extensive prevalence and popular currency. But the mention of it in The Dialogues of Creatures Moralyzed, shows it to have been a generally received opinion in this country at the date of their publication, early in the sixteenth century. Browne mentions it as a general opinion (the first edition of the Vulgar Errors being published in 1646, and the last in 1686), though he states it to be " at present well suppressed" in England by an elephant shown, "not many VOL. I.

many years past we have had the advantage in England, by an elephant shown in many parts thereof, not only in the posture of standing, but kneeling and lying down. Whereby, although the opinion at present be well suppressed, yet, from some strings of tradition, and fruitful recurrence of error, it is not improbable it may revive in the next generation again; this being not the first that hath been seen in England: for, besides some others, as Polydore Virgil relateth, Lewis the French king sent one to Henry III., and Emanuel of Portugal another to Leo X. into Italy, where, notwithstanding, the error is still alive and epidemical, as with us.

The hint and ground of this opinion might be, the gross and somewhat cylindrical composure of the legs, the equality and less perceptible disposure of the joints; especially in the former legs of this animal; they appearing, when he standeth, like pillars of flesh, without any evidence of articulation. The different flexure and order of the joints might also countenance the same, being not disposed in the elephant as they

us.

years past,"........" in many parts thereof, not only in the posture of standing, but kneeling and lying down." He expresses an apprehension, however, that it will revive again, citing the case of Italy, where, notwithstanding the opportunity of witnessing the habits of the animal, afforded by the elephant sent to Leo X., by Emanuel, King of Portugal, "the error," he observes, "is still alive and epidemical, as with And it remains, even to the present day, a "vulgar error" among the uneducated classes. It has long been the custom for the exhibitors of itinerant collections of wild animals, when showing the elephant, to mention the story of its having no joints, and its consequent inability to kneel; and they never fail to think it necessary to demonstrate its untruth by causing the animal to bend one of its fore-legs and to kneel also; but I never saw this done (and I have been present many times on such occasions), without observing that it was witnessed with astonishment and almost with incredulity, by several persons present, whether the exhibition has been in London or in a provincial town. We have thus an instance of an error of the grossest and most palpable description, and one which has often from time to time been refuted, respecting an animal which is not found in the countries in which that error has been entertained, prevailing for a period of at least 2,200 years, though for the last two centuries, to a greatly diminished extent. This is a fact which it will be well to bear in mind, in any enquiries respecting the probable truth of certain relations in natural history, which have at various periods, and among various nations, been generally received, but respecting the truth or falsity of which, we may not be in possession of decisive evidence.-Br.

5 former legs.] Fore-legs used in this case by Spenser.

are in other quadrupeds, but carrying a nearer conformity unto those of man; that is, the bought of the fore-legs, not directly backward, but laterally, and somewhat inward; but the hough or suffraginous flexure behind, rather outward; somewhat different unto many other quadrupeds, as horses, camels, deer, sheep, and dogs; for their fore-legs bend like our legs, and their hinder legs like our arms, when we move them to our shoulders. But quadrupeds oviparous, as frogs, lizards, crocodiles, have their joints and motive flexures more analogously framed unto ours: and some among viviparous, that is, such thereof as can bring their fore-feet and meat therein unto their mouths, as most can do, that have the clavicles or collar-bones, whereby their breasts are broader, and their shoulders more asunder; as the ape, the monkey, the squirrel, and some others. If, therefore, any shall affirm the joints of elephants are differently framed from most of other quadrupeds, and more obscurely and grossly almost than any, he doth herein no injury unto truth. But if, à dicto secundùm quid ad dictum simpliciter, he affirmeth also they have no articulations at all, he incurs the controlment of reason, and cannot avoid the contradiction also of sense.

As for the manner of their venation, if we consult historical experience, we shall find it to be otherwise than, as is commonly presumed, by sawing away of trees. The accounts whereof are to be seen at large at Johannes, Hugo,

the bought.] The bend or flexure.

7 other quadrupeds.] First edition added, "and such as can scratch the ear with the hinder foot."

3 camels.] In the beginning of March, 1652-3, I saw a dromedary, which at the command of his master, by the word (busy) began to lye downe, first, by bending his fore-knees, and then the upper knee of the hinder legg, which is next the groine.-Wr.

9

some others.] As mice sometimes, and dormice always, and among birds, the parat.-Wr.

If, therefore, any shall affirm, &c.] There is some inaccuracy in this sentence: the joints of the elephant are framed upon the same general plan as those of other quadrupeds belonging to the same group of mammalia, and they certainly are not more obscurely and grossly formed than those of any others; having merely the variation of structure rendered necessary by the magnitude and the consequent weight of the animal, as we shall presently show; but being, at the same time, as admirably formed, and as exquisitely adapted to its particular exigencies, as those of any other creature whatever.-Br.

Edwardus Lopez, Garcias ab Horto, Cadamustus, and many

more.

Other concernments there are of the elephant, which might admit of discourse. And if we should question the teeth of elephants,2 that is, whether they be properly so termed, or might not rather be called horns,3 it were no new enquiry of mine, but a paradox as old as Oppianus.* Whether, as Pliny and divers since affirm it, that elephants are terrified and make away upon the grunting of swine,4 Garcias ab Horto may decide, who affirmeth upon experience, they enter their stalls, and live promiscuously in the woods of

* Cygenet, lib. 2.

2 elephants.] There is another error concerning the teeth, which grow not, as most suppose, but as the tuskes of a boare proceed (like horns) from out the upper chawe, and soe bend up againe.— Wr.

3 might not rather be called horns.] It is scarcely necessary to observe, that the tusks, as they are commonly called, of this animal, are truly teeth, being implanted in bones corresponding to those which carry the incisors of other animals: see Cuvier, Règne Animal, édit. nouv. tom. i. p. 237.-Br.

4 making away upon the grunting of swine.] This aversion is alluded to in the following interesting passage from the Menageries: "But the elephant may be endued with this acute hearing, in addition to his exquisite touch, for the protection of the lesser animals from the accidents to which they would be subject from lying in his path. He has an extraordinary dislike to all small quadrupeds. Dogs running near him produce a great annoyance; if a hare start from her cover, he is immediately alarmed; and that pigs are his aversion, has been recorded by every naturalist, from Pliny to Buffon. It is even mentioned by Procopius, the historian of the Persian and Gothic wars, that, at the siege of Edessa, by Chosroes, King of Persia, in the time of Justinian, the besieged Greeks employed the cry of a pig to frighten from the walls the elephants of their enemy. The old naturalists explained this peculiarity by the doctrine of antipathies: in the same way that they affirmed that the elephant was fond of an ox, upon the principle of sympathies. It may appear something equally fanciful, to suggest the possibility that the elephant may dislike the smaller animals to come in his way from his instinctive disinclination to destroy them by an accidental tread. He always avoids a contest with inferior quadrupeds whenever he can; and if a helpless living creature, such as an infant or a wounded his way, he will move the object. The elephant is naturally gentle anxious alone to procure his own food without molesting others. That he is so, is a merciful, as well as a wise dispensation. If he had possessed a ferocity equal to his power, he must have exterminated a very large part of the animal creation.”—Menageries, vol. ii. p .69, 70.—Br.

man,

lie in