Bestiary: the Elephant, model of virtue and religion
The elephant's probity, its washing at the new moon, and the use of its tusks
The opening page of Leonardo's long elephant entry, in mirror script set upside down. The great elephant is praised for probity, prudence, equity and religious observance: at the new moon it goes to the rivers to purge and wash itself, salutes the planet, and when sick throws herbs to the sky as if to sacrifice. Further notes describe how it buries its fallen tusks in old age, uses one tusk to dig roots while keeping the other's point for combat, and when overcome by hunters strikes out its tusks to ransom itself.
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The elephant's virtue and worship at the new moon
The great elephant possesses probity, prudence, equity and religious observance rarely found in men. When the moon renews itself the elephants go to the rivers, purge and solemnly wash themselves, salute the planet and return to the woods; and when sick they lie on their backs and throw herbs toward the sky as if wishing to sacrifice.
The use of the tusks
The elephant buries its tusks when they fall out through old age. Of its two tusks it uses one to dig up roots for food and keeps the point of the other for fighting; and when overcome by hunters and worn down by weariness, it strikes out its tusks and ransoms itself with them.