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." — Hima- 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 perforins 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- 



