11.   The defense has argued that the mark they saw came off when the elephant was bathed, and that a Ringling veterinarian found no evidence the animal was hurt.

12.   The new mark came barely an hour after Gretha Smit of the Netherlands had improved on the old record a first time.

13.   Then the marks came in, followed by the jeers, disbelief and, finally, the controversy.

14.   Their highest marks came from the Italian and Lithuanian judge who put them ahead of the Russians.

15.   Tietmeyer rejected out of hand the recent suggestion by some French politicians and Bank of France insiders that the German mark should come down against the dollar.

16.   The ceremonial last marks will come at the end, accompanied by his extended family, and several thousand years worth of music and dance.

17.   The mark came under pressure on European markets early on Monday on growing expectations that the Bundesbank might soon cut interest rates.