WATERING. 
293 
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 
march 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 vley 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.” 
