This piece is also famous as a parody, quoting "Dance of the Sylphs" from Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust and the "Scherzo" from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Since both pieces share a fairy theme, the elephants, despite their massive size, march with adorable fairy wings attached. One is encouraged to imagine this surreal scene and laugh heartily. Furthermore, this is purely intended for the visual comedic effect of a costume parade; cynical interpretations, such as it being a criticism of Berlioz, are unnecessary. Berlioz was, after all, one of the benefactors who supported the young Saint-Saëns and one of the composers he deeply admired.