The elephants : die Rüssel-Tiere, Proboscidea, Sslonn(u) : (a zoological mnemonic) / by Richard John Anderson.

  • Anderson, Richard John, 1848-1914.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The elephants : die Rüssel-Tiere, Proboscidea, Sslonn(u) : (a zoological mnemonic) / by Richard John Anderson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    But odd'st of all I have to tell Wine's by these creatures liked so well That they ne'er appear so frisky As when they hope to get some whisky. Then many have the story heard, That to hob-nob they've even dared ; The cause of this must sure be sought, In gratitude for being taught. [Bacchus, perhaps, is badly rated. Because he was with charms so sated ; He was the cause of many sighs, And much wandering of the eyes. And so the men of that day scold, They felt so left out in the cold.] Elephas Indicus we name The Eastern type of giant frame. Which was well known in olden times. And found of use in tropic clinies. Indians employed this beast in war, And on its back they placed a car. This, waggon-like, was made to hold Some thirty men full armed we're told ; These squads, of course, did danger heighten. Their aspect did much more to frighten. Semiramis, Assyrian Queen, To conquer India was most keen. This Empress had the greatest fear Of India's famous Russel-Tier. She tried, indeed, an odd device. Which for herself did not end nice— Ox skins were fashioned out and sewed So that they Slonn-like figures showed. On camels' backs stuffed skins were tied. By draping the disguise was tried, But spies to Indians told of these. And so betrayed Semiramis ; The lady found that Indian men