CH. x] HABITS OF THE EI.EPHANT 237 



a iiiimber of sub-species ; but as within a century its 

 range was continuous over nearly the whole continent 

 south of the Sahara, and as it was given to such exten- 

 sive occasional wanderings, it is probable that the 

 examination of a sufficient series of specimens would 

 show that on their confines these races grade into one 

 another. In its essentials the beast is almost every- 

 where the same, although, of course, there must be 

 variation of habits with any animal which exists through- 

 out so wide and diversifies^ a range of territory ; for in 

 one place it is found in high mountains, in another in 

 a dry desert, in another in low-lying marshes or wet 

 and dense forests. 



In East Africa the old bulls are usually found singly 

 or in small parties by themselves. These have the 

 biggest tusks ; the bulls in the prime of life, the herd 

 bulls or breeding bulls, which keep in herds with the 

 cows and calves, usually have smaller ivory. Some- 

 times, however, very old but vigorous bulls are found 

 with the cows ; and I am inclined to think that the 

 ordinary herd bulls at times also keep by themselves, 

 or at least in company with only a few cows, for at 

 certain seasons, generally immediately after the rains, 

 cows, most of them with calves, appear in great numbers 

 at certain places, where only a few bulls are ever found. 

 \Miere undisturbed, elephants rest and wander about 

 at all times of the day and night, and feed without much 

 regard to fixed hours. Mornhig or evening, noon or 

 midnight, the herd may be on the move, or its members 

 may be resting ; yet during the hottest hours of noon 

 they seldom feed, and ordinarily stand almost still, 

 resting — for elephants very rarely lie down imless sick. 

 Where they are afraid of man, their only enemy, they 

 come out to feed in thinly forested plains, or culti\ ated 



