BOOK VIII. V. 9-IO 



that they know why they are hunted, but also that EUpMnes 

 almost all know what they must beware of. It is said ^huntLs. 

 that when an elephant accidentally meets a human 

 being who is merely wandering across its track in a 

 sohtary place it is good-tempered and peaceful and 

 will actually show the way ; but that when on the other 

 hand it notices a man's footprint before it sees the 

 man himself it begins to tremble in fear of an ambush, 

 stops to snifF the scent, gazes round, trumpets 

 angrily, and avoids treading on the footprint but 

 digs it up and passes it to the next elephant, and 

 that one to the following, and on to the last of all 

 with a similar message, and then the column wheels 

 round and retires and a battle hne is formed : since 

 the smell in question lasts to be scented by them all, 

 though in the majority of cases it is not even the 

 smell of bare feet. Similarly a tigress also, it is 

 said, even though savage to all other animals and 

 herself scorning the footprints even of an elephant, 

 when she sees the track of a human being at once 

 carries her cubs elsewhere — though how has she 

 recognized or where has she seen before the person 

 that she fears ? For it is certain that such forests are 

 very httle frequented. Granted that no doubt they 

 may be surprised by the mere rarity of the print; 

 but how do they know that it is something to be 

 afraid oi} Indeed there is a further point, why 

 should they dread even the sight of a man himself 

 when they excel him so greatly in strength, size and 

 speed? Doubtless it is Nature's law and shows her 

 power, that the fiercest and largest wild beasts may 

 have never seen a thing that they ought to fear and 

 yet undei*stand immediately when they have to 

 fear it. 



