There has been a herd of captured elephants here for the last month and I have repeatedly observed them assisted by D^r Meadows and a first rate Elephant shot M^r. Walker C.R.R.² We have had the animals irritated greatly but though they screamed violently enough we never saw any contraction of the orbicularis palpebrarum, nor did we ever see any tears.³ The natives who came in with the animals say that they are quite sure that the Elephant does not cry unless the eye is hurt or struck in any way. All speak positively on this head. The contraction of the muscle they had never witnessed, I daresay because they never observed an Elephant when trumpetting, for in such in case the natives usually take to their heels.—⁴ M^r Birch⁵ & M^r. Walker who have shot some hundreds never saw either tears shed or the muscle contracted, but then as they remark, when an Elephant trumpets he is about to charge and they have had no time then to think of anything but knocking them over— Perhaps M^r Darwin will like to know the above but he will be better pleased to learn