A POWERFUL SWIMMER. 
259 
the elephant, my friend, Green, remarks, cc As with 
most other elephant-hunters, I, at one time, enter¬ 
tained the impression that a deep-rutted c spoor 5 
was a sure indication of an old bull; but I now 
find it no criterion whatever. Many young bulls 
have deeper rutted soles to their feet than old ones. 
I think it entirely depends on the nature of the soil 
of the country they are accustomed to; for in¬ 
stance : if a sandy soil, their ruts will be found very 
deep and rough; but if, on the contrary, a stony 
country, they will be the reverse; in some cases, 
indeed, worn completely smooth. If, contrary to 
this rule, an elephant be killed in a sandy country, 
with the soles of his feet smooth, then he is 
sure to have lately left a strange district, and 
vice versa.” 
The elephant is a capital swimmer, and takes to 
the water freely when in search of food. He swims 
deep; so much so, indeed, that the end of his pro¬ 
boscis only is out of the water. With this instru¬ 
ment for breathing, however, he will fearlessly cross 
the most mighty rivers of the African continent. 
