ch. x] HABITS OF THE ELEPHANT 237 
a number of sub-species; but as within a century its 
range was continuous over nearly the whole continent 
south of the Sahara, and as it was given to such exten¬ 
sive occasional wanderings, it is probable that the 
examination of a sufficient series of specimens would 
show that on their confines these races grade into one 
another. In its essentials the beast is almost every¬ 
where the same, although, of course, there must be 
variation of habits with any animal which exists through¬ 
out so wide and diversified a range of territory; for in 
one place it is found in high mountains, in another in 
a dry desert, in another in low-lying marshes or wet 
and dense forests. 
In East Africa the old bulls are usually found singly 
or in small parties by themselves. These have the 
biggest tusks; the bulls in the prime of life, the herd 
bulls or breeding bulls, which keep in herds with the 
cows and calves, usually have smaller ivory. Some¬ 
times, however, very old but vigorous bulls are found 
with the cows ; and 1 am inclined to think that the 
ordinary herd bulls at times also keep by themselves, 
or at least in company with only a few cows, for at 
certain seasons, generally immediately after the rains, 
cows, most of them with calves, appear in great numbers 
at certain places, where only a few bulls are ever found. 
Where undisturbed, elephants rest and wander about 
at all times of the day and night, and feed without much 
regard to fixed hours. Morning or evening, noon or 
midnight, the herd may be on the move, or its members 
may be resting; yet during the hottest hours of noon 
they seldom feed, and ordinarily stand almost still, 
resting—for elephants very rarely lie down unless sick. 
Where they are afraid of man, their only enemy, they 
come out to feed in thinly forested plains, or cultivated 
