50 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
work collectively to dig out and to overthrow the trees 
that would be too large for the strength of a single 
animal. I have seen trees between two and three 
feet in diameter that have been felled for the sake of 
the roots and tender heads ; these have shown un¬ 
mistakable signs of an attack by several elephants, 
as the ground has been ploughed by tusks of different 
sizes to tear up the long straggling roots which were 
near the surface, and the deep marks of feet around 
the centre of operations, of various diameters, have 
proved the co-operation of members of the herd. 
I once saw an elephant strike a large timber tree 
with its forehead to shake down the fruit. This 
was a peculiar example of the immense power that 
can be exerted when required. We were waiting 
near the margin of the White Nile, about half an 
hour before sunset, expecting the arrival of water- 
buck, when a rumbling sound and a suppressed roar 
in the jungle were accompanied by the breaking of a 
branch, which denoted the approach of elephants. 
Presently they emerged from the forest in several 
directions, and one, which appeared to be the largest 
I had ever seen, advanced to within 120 yards of 
our position without perceiving us, as we were con¬ 
cealed behind a bush upon some rising ground close 
to the river’s bank. This elephant had enormous 
tusks, but as we had only small-bore rifles, I was 
contented to watch, without disturbing the magni¬ 
ficent animal before me. 
There was a very large and lofty tree quite three 
feet in diameter ; upon the upper branches grew the 
