The Wonders of the Jungle, Book Two

The reader presents a lively account of jungle life, concentrating on elephant society and a range of carnivores. It describes elephant herds as a kind of republic, explaining how leaders are selected and tasked with finding food and water, keeping order, and protecting the group. It sketches internal policing, trials, punishments, and the possibilities of repentance. It examines feline anatomy and behavior—tiger, lion, and leopard—including fangs, rough tongues, retractile claws, hunting techniques, family lessons for cubs, maternal duties, and territorial truces at water holes. The leopard's spotted coat and attraction to scents receive attention, and the American jaguar is compared. The final chapters consider the dog tribe and the American gray wolf, emphasizing evasive strategies learned to survive human threats.