156 



THE GREAT THICK-SKINNED ANIMALS 



that the elephant, large and heavy though he is, can yet move over 

 the ground, and even through the thick forest, with so silent a tread 

 'that you would be quite unable to hear his footfall, even though you 

 might be standing close beside him. Indeed, hunters who have shot 

 many an elephant tell us that the only way in which one can hear 

 the animal moving is by listening for the sound caused by the water 



ELEPHANTS DRINKING BY MOONLIGHT 



contained in his stomach, which makes a peculiar "swishing" sound 

 as he walks along. 



Now, how is this? Here is an immense animal, standing eleven 

 or twelve feet in height, and weighing two or three tons, and yet 

 walking with the silent and stealthy tread of a cat! Are his feet 

 furnished with soft cushions upon the soles, like those of the lion or 

 the tiger? Yes and no, their structure being, however, perfectly 

 dififerent, and yet equally wonderful. 



