38 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



Wild Elephants usually proceed to the water at night, but if the day is 

 very warm they seek the river while the sun is yet high, to cool themselves in the 

 refreshing stream. Generally they approach it with great caution, stopping every 

 few moments to listen for any hostile sound, or to apprize themselves,. by their ex- 

 quisite sense of smell, of the vicinity of some lurking foe. Their bath is greatly 

 enjoyed, and the huge animals frequently submerge themselves entirely, or standing 

 in the water where it about reaches up to their bodies, draw great quantities of 

 it into their trunks and spirt it over their own backs, or those of their neighbours. 

 The uncouth, and clumsy hippopotami, disturbed by the sudden arrival of the 

 colossal strangers, rise to the surface, and throwing great jets of water into the air 

 from their nostrils, with open mouths which display the huge teeth crowded together, 

 stare at the unwelcome intruders ; while chattering monkeys from the overha'nging 

 branches, with many curious grimaces, and frantic gestures, express their disapproba- 

 tion of the entire company beneath them. Such is one of one the usual scenes 

 witnessed by every traveller who has penetrated into the interior of the great 

 African Continent, and surely nothing could more gladden the heart of the natura- 

 list after weeks of weary wanderings, exposed to the fury of the elements, attacks 

 of savage beasts, or still more savage man, than to have suddenly open before his 

 astonished gaze a scene like the one depicted in our illustration ; and to find him- 

 self- at last arrived . at that bourne where the mighty animals of unknown wilds, 

 rniove in their native freedom. 



