The elephants of a herd seldom roam far from each other, and even when one strays from its comrades the tiger, notwithstanding his agility and strength, will hardly venture to attack it. Should he do so, the male elephant puts down his head and takes him on his tusks, tosses him into the air, and stands prepared to stamp upon him the instant he touches the ground. The female has no tusks. But the has art of falling upon an enemy and crushing him by her weight, in their native forests, therefore, elephants are invincible to all enemies, save man. The latter, even in his rudest state, has only to light a fire, and the monster flees in consternation; or he digs a pit and covers it with turf, and the animal falls into it, helpless and at his merey.
The docility of these animals could be better illustrated by the aptitude which they manifest in the capture of their wild brethren. In some part of India a tame elephants is taught to walk on a narrow path between two pitfalls, which are covered with branches, and then to go into the woods and induce the wild herd to come that way. He walks slowly onward till near the trap, and then hurries away as if in sport, passing safely between the pits, while some of those which follow him are immediately trapped. It has been observed that such wild elephants as have escaped the snare always pursue the traitor with utmost fury ; and if they can overtake him which sometimes happens, they beat him to death.