14                 A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.

frontier, and once more dispose of him to some one at a place many
miles distant from where they originally stole the beast. Distinctive
marks are as a rule not very numerous on these creatures. Govern-
ment animals are not branded,* but those owned by firms frequently
are. The shoulders or quarters are the usual places. There is an
idea that brands do not do well on the skin of the elephant ; this is
not the case when carefully done. I have seen many elephants
carrying clear brands free from blemish. Elephants with any
blemishes about the shoulders or quarters should always be looked
upon with suspicion, as they are likely to be stolen animals, the
brands having been tampered with. All brands should be large and
clear.

Efforts have constantly been made to place in the hands of stock-
breeders a more humane and more satisfactory means of branding
their animals than by the time-honoured method of the hot iron.
Experiments have been made from time to time with caustic
branding compositions which should prove painless and leave a plain
and permanent brand. In Burma certain compositions have been
tried by brushing the paste over a stencil ; the operation seems to
produce no pain but the length of time taken for the scab to fall off
is considerable. Perhaps the patented branding compositions may
be tried. The inventors claim that—

(a)The brand may be used in any weather.
(b)No fright as brand is painless.
(c)The brand is not even deep enough to prove injurious to
           hides when tanned.

The " Rodin " Branding Composition for life-time marking of
animals may be obtained from Messrs. Hauptner.†

Mode of application.— Clip any hair at the seat of operation;
stir the composition well before pouring a portion into a shallow
dish or plate to ensure the branding stamp being evenly dipped.
Apply the branding stamp armed with the composition, and press
firmly for a few moments.

Messrs. Hauptner will supply dish, figures or letters of any size
or any combination " To order"

* Quite recently Government has been carrying on some experiments on
Kheddah elephants with branding compositions.
† Messrs. Hauptner, N. W. Luisen-Strasse, 53, Berlin.