36 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



in noisy groups construct their massive nests all over some chosen tree. The rivers 

 are the abode of numberless Crocodiles, that lie motionless upon their surface, or 

 rest upon their banks and uncovered bars of sand, while great herds of Hippopotami 

 sport within the waters. Thus on every side all forms of nature's handiwork are 

 seen, in such profusion and endless variety as to cause some of the earlier travellers 

 of those distant wilds to state that they bore more the appearance of some great 

 menagerie, than the open tracks of a land where man was accustomed to dwell. 



Pre-eminent among his fellow quadrupeds, both as regards his size and his 

 sagacity (which at times approaches almost to the dignity of intellect), the. Elephant 

 claims our attention above, all the animals that have been referred to. Larger than 

 his Asiatic relative, he also differs from him in many particulars, some of which are 

 remarkable and peculiarly conspicuous. One is the immense ears which, when laid 

 back, reach beyond the shoulders and cover all his fore-quarters, and when thrown 

 forward conceal his body from the view of anyone in front of him, and give to his 

 head the appearance of being provided with a pair of huge, leathery wings. Both 

 sexes possess tusks, and the female has thus a great advantage over her Asiatic 

 representative, which is devoid of these valuable and useful appendages. 



This great animal (belonging, with the hippopotamus and rhinoceros, to the 

 class of pachyderms, so designated from the great thickness of their hides), are always 

 accustomed to go in large troops, the old males taking up their position in front and 

 rear, to protect from any sudden attack the females and young clustered together 

 in the centre. It has no cause to fear most of the wild animals inhabiting its dis- 

 tricts, although, as occasionally happens, when it engages in conflict with the 

 unwieldly rhinoceros, the latter will rush upon, and getting beneath its huge adversary 

 will plunge its long, sharp horn into the elephant's body, and by repeated stabs 

 bring it in a short time lifeless to the earth. A species of tick, and many other 

 insects infest their hides and cause the animals great annoyance. To rid themselves 

 of these they have recourse to a very ingenious and effectual method. Seeking 

 some half-dried pool, the mud of which is still soft, they lie down and roll in it, 

 wallowing after the manner of a pig in a similar place. Having covered themselves 

 thoroughly with the sticky earth, they emerge entirely of another colour according as 

 the mud may be white, red or black, and taking up their position in the sun, remain 

 motionless for hours until their covering becomes dry and hard. Then by sudden, 

 muscular efforts, the mud is broken and falls off the hide, carrying with it all the 



