CHAP. 11. (11.)—IN WHAT COUNTRIES THE ELEPHANT IS FOUND; THE ANTIPATHY OF THE ELEPHANT AND THE DRAGON.
Africa produces elephants, beyond the deserts of the Syrtes,
and in Mauritania; they are found also in the. countries of the
Æthiopians and the Troglodytæ as mentioned above.[1] But
it is India that produces the largest,[2] as well as the dragon,[3]
which is perpetually at war with the elephant, and is itself
of so enormous a size, as easily to envelope the elephants
with its folds, and encircle them in its coils. The contest is
equally fatal to both; the elephant, vanquished, falls to the
earth, and by its weight, crushes the dragon which is entwined
around it.[4]
1. In c. 8 of this Book.—B.
2. We learn from Cuvier, that the elephants of Africa and Asia belong to
different species, distinguished by the form of the head, and some peculiarities in the structure of the teeth.—B.
3. By the term "dragon," we may suppose that Pliny refers to some
of the great serpents which exist in hot climates, and are of such vast size,
that they might perhaps be able to perform some of the exploits here
ascribed to the dragon.—B.
4. This account appears to be entirely without foundation.—B.