110 
MAMMALIA. 
[Chap. III. 
the valleys from ridge to ridge, through forests so dense 
as altogether to obstruct a distant view, the elephants 
invariably select the line of march which communicates 
most judiciously with the opposite point, by means of 
the safest ford. 1 So sure-footed are they, that there 
are few places where man can go that an elephant can- 
not follow, provided there be space to admit his bulk, 
and solidity to sustain his weight. 
This faculty is almost entirely derived from the 
unusual position, as compared with other quadrupeds, 
of the knee joint of the hind leg ; arising from the 
superior length of the thigh-bone, and the shortness of 
the metatarsus : the heel being almost where it pro- 
jects in man, instead of being lifted up as a " hock." 
It is this which enables him, in descending declivities, 
to depress and adjust the weight of his hinder por- 
tions, which would otherwise overbalance and force him 
headlong. 2 It is by the same arrangement that he is 
1 Dr. Hooker, in describing the certainly topple over,) proceeds 
ascent of the Himalayas, says, the thus. His first manoeuvre is to 
natives in making their paths de- kneel down close to the edge of the 
spise all zigzags, and run in straight declivity, placing his chest to the 
lines up the steepest hill faces; ground: one fore-leg is then cau- 
whilst "the elephant's path is an ex- tiously passed a short way down 
cellent specimen of engineering — the slope ; and if there is no natu- 
the opposite of the native track, — ral protection to afford a firm foot- 
for it winds judiciously." — Hiraa- ing, he speedily forms one by 
lay an Journal, vol. i. ch. iv. stamping into the soil if moist, or 
2 Since the above passage was kicking out a footing if dry. This 
written, I have seen in the Journal point gained, the other fore-leg is 
of the Asiatic ^Society of Bengal, brought down in the same way; 
vol. xiii. pt. ii. p. 916, a paper and performs the same work, a 
upon this subject, illustrated by little in advance of the first; which 
the subjoined diagram. is thus at liberty to move lower 
The writer says, " an elephant still. Then, first one and then the 
descending a bank of too acute an second of the hind legs is carefully 
angle to admit of his walking down drawn over the side, and the hind- 
it direct,_ (which, were he to at- feet in turn occupy the resting- 
tempt, his huge body, soon disar- places previously used and left by 
ranging the centre of gravity, would the fore ones. The course, how- 
