CHAP. VII.] 
FOOD OF FLFPHANTS. 
275 
rising of the sun, in which he rests until about 5 p.m. 
when he wanders forth upon the plains. In Africa, 
the country being generally more open, the elephant 
remains throughout the day either beneath a solitary 
tree, or exposed to the sun in the vast prairies, where 
the thick grass attains a height of from nine to twelve 
feet. The general food of the African elephant consists 
of the foliage of trees, especially of mimosas. In 
Ceylon, although there are many trees that serve as 
food, the elephant nevertheless is an extensive grass- 
feeder. The African variety, being almost exclusively 
a tree-feeder, requires his tusks to assist him in pro¬ 
curing food. Many of the mimosas are flat-headed, 
about thirty feet high, and the richer portion of the 
foliage confined to the crown; thus the elephant, not 
being able to reach to so great a height, must overturn 
the tree to procure the coveted food. The destruction 
caused by a herd of African elephants in a mimosa 
forest is extraordinary; and I have seen trees uprooted 
of so large a size, that I am convinced no single 
elephant could have overturned them. I have mea¬ 
sured trees four feet six inches in circumference, 
and about thirty feet high, uprooted by elephants. 
The natives have assured me that they mutually assist 
each other, and that several engage together in the 
work of overturning a large tree. None of the mimosas 
t 2 
