WATERING. 05 



weather be cool and cloudy, only every second or 

 third night. For this purpose he, about sunset, 

 leaves his mid-day haunts, and commences his 

 inarch towards the water, which he usually reaches 

 between the hours of nine and midnight, and after 

 he has drunk his fill, he retraces his steps to his 

 forest home. 



My friend Green's remarks regarding the subject 

 in question, (in which, so far as my limited 

 experience extends, I fully concur) are not without 

 interest; he says : 



" Elephants in the cold season, in July and 

 August, do not appear to require water every night. 

 Males at that time will frequently remain in the 

 bush for three days without visiting the pool, 

 making excursions to it only every fourth, or, it 

 may be, third night. Females with small calves 

 require water more frequently, and during the 

 months just named repair to it every other night, 

 that is, leaving one night out. During the hot 

 weather in October, November, and December, 

 should no rain fall, it is different, as the males 

 then appear to require water every second night, 

 if not every night. After the rainy season, when 

 the desert portion of the country is well supplied 

 with vlcy water, it is very common to find elephants 

 frequenting the pool during the day-time ; in 

 districts where they are left undisturbed, noon-day 

 would, in fact, appear to be their natural time 

 of drinking. It is only when they are distrustful 

 of danger that they avoid going to water in the 

 heat of the day." 



