264 WILD ANIMALS. 



by nature for the animal's safe progression in hilly or rough 

 ground. The massive proportions of the feet can be imagined 

 when it is stated that in nearly every case the measurement of 

 twice round a full-grown animal's foot will give its height. The 

 elephant's make and bulk will not allow it to perform any move- 

 ment necessitating the raising of all the feet from the ground at 

 once. Hence it is precluded from clearing objects by springing or 

 jumping in any way. 



Many things about the elephant are surprising, and one of them is 

 that so clumsy a looking animal should exhibit such peculiar 

 grace in its movements and that its tread should be so exceed- 

 ingly light and inaudible. The spongy character of the large 

 flat pads or layers that compose the foot enables it to move 

 almost noiselessly and even stealthily when requisite ; for instance, 

 when escaping from a pursuer. "When suddenly disturbed in 

 the jungle," says a well-known hunter, " it wUl burst away with 

 a rush that seems to bear down all before it ; but the noise sinks 

 into absolute stillness so suddenly that a novice might well be led 

 to suppose that the fugitive had only halted within a few yards of 

 him, when further search will disclose the fact that it has stolen 

 silently away, making scarcely a sound in its escape, and, stranger 

 still, leaving the foliage almost undisturbed by its passage." 



It is also a capital swimmer, taking readily to the water when 

 necessary, and easily crossing the widest rivers. It can, and in 

 fact generally does, go completely under, carrying its trunk well 

 out, however, so that the organ can be used for breathing purposes. 

 This, the elephant's favourite way of swimming is, in the case of a 

 tame animal one fraught with danger to the rider, for in order to 

 keep his own head above water it necessitates his standing up. on 

 the back of theanimal in anything but a comfortable or safe position. 

 It also makes it difficult work to keep the animal in a proper 

 direction, and to get one safely across a river requires considerable 

 dexterity even for a mahout. When the animal is a female, and 

 is followed by a very young calf, the mother supports it with her 

 trunk, or when able the young one is made to scramble on her 

 shoulder, and hold on with its legs ; if, however, it is a few 

 months old and strong enough she makes it swim by itself. 



