Dear M^r Darwin

In case you have not seen the Proceed^gs. Asiatic Soc^y Bengal, I extract the following notice of the polygamous habits of the Asiatic Elephant, by Lieut’ Johnstone, Superintend^t Kheddas, Cuttack Tributary, Mahals, which are particularly trustworthy:¹

“The average number of a herd of elephants is about 20 or 25, they have a female at their head, who leads the way;—in the cold weather, three or four herds often join together; & when a female is in heat a male joins them, otherwise the males remain apart.”

“often a large male is seen attended by 3 or 4 smaller ones.”

“Males when with the herd, never help to defend the others from any outward attack, but are generally the first to run.” Proc^gs. for 1868. p. 128 (May)

He also mentions that, in a herd of 30 to 40, it is not unusual to find only one really old female, the average duration of life being 80 to 100 years. He has also observed that, a large proportion of the males are puny & stunted, tho’ why, he does not understand. “Of those that attain a large size (say 1 in 10) the smallest are always killed or turned out of the herd by the larger ones, wh. tends to keep up the size of the breed”.²

By some accident this N^o was not sent to me last year, in regular course; & I have only just rec^d it.

Believe me Yours very truly | Walter Elliot

Charles Darwin Esq