48 LEAVES EEOM THE 



rliinoceros mth his trunk, and stroke the long ears 

 of his playmate right handily, now and then giving his 

 friend's tail a sly pull ; upon which the rhinoceros 

 would cut a clumsy caper, wheel round, and nibble the 

 elephant's trunk with his huge flexible lips. He was 

 fond of going into the capacious tank, which served as a 

 bath for him and the elephant, who were alternately let 

 out into the enclosure ; the gambols before-mentioned 

 having been played through the iron railing, when the 

 elephant was expatiating in the great enclosure, and 

 the rhinoceros was out in the small space before its 

 apartment. 



When the rhinoceros first took to the water, there 

 was a marked difference between his obstinate stupidity 

 and the sagacity of the elephant, under the same cir- 

 cumstances. The bottom of the tank, which is sur- 

 mounted by an elevated coj)ing, gradually inclines from 

 the entrance, till, at the opposite extremity, it is deep 

 enough to permit an elephant of full height, and of the 

 massive proportions of poor Jack, to submerge the whole 

 of its gigantic body; and most gratifying it was to see 

 Jack enjoy the cooling comforts of an entire submersion, 

 now dipping his huge head beneath the surface, and 

 presently raising it again, again to plunge it out of 

 sight. The rhinoceros walked in well enough down the 

 gradual descent, and when he got out of his depth 

 swam boldly to the opposite extremity. Once there, 

 however, he seemed to have no idea of the possibility 

 of returning, but remained plunging and making frait- 

 less efforts to get out over the raised coping while he 

 was in the deep water, where the wall went sheer down 

 and there was no foothold. It was rather a nervous 

 time for those who witnessed the \dolent and ungainly 

 efforts of the brute ; for it was feared that he would 

 then and there tire himself out, and sink exhausted. 

 At last, when almost overworn by his useless toil, he 



