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Concerning wild elephants who are self-governing they tell many wonderful tales, particularly the one about the fording of riversPliny, Nat. Hist. viii. 11, gives a different account; still different is Aelian, De Natura Animal. vii. 15, and cf. Philostratus, Vita Apoll. ii. 15.: the youngest and smallest volunteers his services to go first into the stream. The others wait on the bank and observe the result, for if his back remains above water, those that are larger than he will have a wide margin of safety to give them confidence.