THE HIPPOPOTAMUS AND HER BABY. 87 



wonderful power of remaining so long under water to the young hip- 

 popotamus, first of all, to enable it to suck when the water has been 

 clear, Mr. Bartlett has frequently seen it sucking under water and, 

 secondly, in order that it may be concealed from its enemies, though 

 I am not at all certain but that a large crocodile would seize and 

 swallow a young hippopotamus as a jack would swallow a roach. 



Master Guy Fawkes, nevertheless, had one day a narrow escape 

 of his life. In order to clean out the tank, one fine sunny morning the 

 mother and child were let out into the pond outside. They both re- 

 mained in the water as long as it suited them, and then the mother 

 walked out with that peculiar stately gait which distinguishes this 

 gigantic animal. The little one attempted to follow, but, unfortunate- 

 ly, he chose a landing-place at the corner nearest the giraffes' enclosure, 

 just at the very point where there were no steps. The poor little fel- 

 low struggled and fought hard to get out, but could not, tailing back 

 exhausted into the water. His mother, seeing the distress of her 

 child, immediately went back into the water, and, diving down, 

 brought him up from the bottom. She then supported his head above 

 water, in order to give him time to breathe. For nearly half an hour 

 Mr. Bartlett and the keepers were in agonies. Of course, they dare 

 not go to help Guy Fawkes, and there was no form of life-buoy they 

 could throw to the struggling creature. At last the young one made 

 a more vigorous effort than ever, when simultaneously the old >ue 

 gave him a push with her tremendous head, and the little animal's life 

 was thus saved. So we see that the hippopotamus is no fool ; her in- 

 stinct mind, rather told her how to save her young one. 



It would be superfluous in me to attempt to describe this little ani- 

 mal, because every one ought to go and see it. It is about the size 

 and shape of an ordinary bacon pig, but the color is something of a 

 pinkish-slate. He knows his keeper very well : and when he has had 

 his dinner is as playful as a kitten, popping and jumping about his 

 den, and throwing up mouthfuls of hay, like a young calf. When first 

 born he was small enough to come through the bars on to the straw 

 outside his den, but soon he had grown so much that he could not get 

 through. He used to put his head through the bars, and allow Pres- 

 cott, the keeper, to rub his gums. The tusks of the lower-jaw were 

 just beginning to cut the gum. His back teeth have not come yet ; 

 but they are obliged to be very careful about his diet, for he has al- 

 ready (when I write, in January) begun to pick a bit at the food pre- 

 pared for him. I am pleased to be able to record that the council oi 

 the Zoological Society so fully appreciate Mr. Bartlett's cleverness in 

 rearing this little beast, that they have voted him a silver medal and a 

 purse, with a check in it. Prescott and the other keeper have also 

 received a silver medal and a douceur from the society. 



I now proceed to make some general remarks about hippopotami. 



The hippopotamus is of some value commercially. The skin is 



