120 HISTORY OF THE ELEPHANT. 



not true, for they lie down to sleep in the same way as 

 other animals, though probably not quite so often. When 

 they are old they are said not to lie down often, even for 

 the purpose of sleeping ; and instances are mentioned of 

 elephants in India, subjected to labor, which did not lie 

 down for twelve months or more, though they occasionally 

 slept a little on their feet. The wild ones are said to take 

 their occasional repose leaning against the bole of a tree. 

 In confinement, in this country, we believe, they take their 

 repose leaning against the sides of their dens ; but an 

 elephant in a den, and exposed to the climate of this coun- 

 try, is so much out of its natural element, that no conclu- 

 sion drawn from observing it will apply to the race in a 

 state of nature. 



The voice of the elephant, as usually heard in a state 

 of confinement, is almost a* hollow as the roar of a lion, 

 though it wants the peculiarly offensive roughness of the 

 lion's voice, which grates so harshly upon the ear, and puts 

 one in mind of the rending and Mangling of the flesh of 

 animals. But this disagreeable hollow sound is not the 

 only one uttered by the elephant, or even the most com- 

 mon one, where the animal is free arid at its ease. The 

 elephant has three voices : one which is shrill, but ends in a 

 murmur, as if the animal were coaxing , one which is deep, 

 but soft and complaining ; and one, which is the harsh 

 and hollow roar, which is most frequently heard from the 

 confined animal. The first of these is sprrtive, and so 

 long as the animal utters it, there is nothing tt be feared. 

 The second is complaint, and if the cause uf It be found 

 out and removed, it will give place to the firs?:, and there 

 is still no danger ; but the third is indignation or revenge, 

 or both united, and then it is not safe to come near the 

 animal. 



As is the case with vegetable feeders, they prefei suc- 

 culent matters, and especially such as are sweet, or &swe 

 otherwise an agreeable flavor. In their native forests i> is 



