THE WATER-ELEPHANT 
97 
of the yolk-sack they move into the shallowest water possible, 
from one to half an inch in depth. 
After passing through the fry stage, the slightly bigger 
fish betake themselves to the reeds and grass growing in the 
springs and when nearly adult come out into the open and move 
about with the shoals. 
Their food, besides ova and fry, appears to consist of water 
fleas (Cyclops) and vegetable matter. There being a very large 
number of fish in each spring, food material is apparently scarce. 
This fact and the restricted area of their habitat appear 
to account for the fact of their stunted growth, three to 
three and a half inches being an exceptionally large fish. Their 
adaptability to the strength (in soda) and temperature of the 
water is also worthy of note. 
In conclusion, every credit is due to Mr. F. W. Graham 
who first brought the occurrence of these fish to notice. 
THE WATER-ELEPHANT 
By R. J. Cuninghame 
M. Le Petit, who is at present in Nairobi, was for a period 
of five years travelling in the French Congo, and he has kindly 
furnished me with a somewhat detailed account of the Water 
Elephant. 
The first time he saw one was three and a half years ago 
(about June 1907) when travelling down the River Congo, 
near the junction of the River Kassai with the River Congo. 
The second occasion was in the swampy country between 
Lake Leopold II and Lake Tumba near to where the M’fini 
River finds its exit from Lake Leopold II. This is in what 
is known as the Lukenye District. 
His first view of a water-elephant was that of a head and 
neck only, at some considerable distance, appearing above the 
surface of the water ; and he, being in a boat or native ‘ dug-out 
canoe,’ thought it was a big tree-snag. The natives with 
him told him it was a water-elephant, and shortly afterwards 
