BOOK VIII. XI. 32-xn. 34 



well as serpents " that keep up a continual feud and 

 \varfare with them, the serpents also being of so Theindian 

 large a size that they easily encircle the elephants ^^ne!ny—the 

 in their coils and fetter them with a twisted knot. •s^""*»- 

 In this duel both combatants die together, and the 

 vanquished elephant in faUing crushes with its weight 

 the snake coiled round it. 



XII. Eveiy species of animal is marvellously 

 cunning for its own interests, as are those which we 

 are considering. One difficulty that the serpent has 

 is in chmbing to such a height ; consequently it keeps 

 watch on the track worn by the elephant going to 

 pasture and drops on him from a lofty tree. The 

 elephant knows that he is badly handicapped in fight- 

 ing against the snake's coils, and therefore seeks to 

 rub it against trees or rocks. The snakes are on 

 their guard against this, and consequently begin by 

 shackling the elephants' steps with their tail. The 

 elephants untie the knots with their trunk. But 

 the snakes poke their heads right into the elephants' 

 nostrils, hindering their breathing and at the same 

 timelaceratingtheir tenderestparts; also when caught 

 in the path of the elephants they rear up against 

 them, going specially for their eyes : this is how it 

 comes about that elephants are frequently found 

 bhnd and exhausted with hunger and wasting 

 misery. 



What other cause could anybody adduce for such 

 a quarrel save Nature arranging a match between a 

 pair of combatants to provide herself with a show ? 



There is also another account of this contest — that 

 elephants are very cold-blooded, and consequently in 

 very hot weather are specially sought after by the 

 snakes ; and that for this reason they submerge 



27 



