1 1 1 ri'( )!'( ) r \ M rs. — Jlippdjintdnius am/Jdhiuuf^. 



'\\\\. IluM'oiMnAMi s is iin ciioniicms (jiiadruptd, a native of various ])nrts of 

 AlVica, aiul is always found cither in water or in its near vicinity. In absolute 

 liei^dit it is not veiy reniarkahle, ns its Icg'j arc extremely short, but the actual 

 hulk of its body is very «?rcat indeed. The average height of a full-grown IIii)|)o- 

 j)()taiiius is about tive feet. Its nakeil skin is dark brown, curiously marked with 

 innumerable lines like those on " crackle" china or old oil-])aintings, and is also 

 dappled with a muuber of sooty black spots, which cannot be seen except on a 

 close inspection. A vast mnnber of pores ])enetrate the skin, and exude a thick 

 oily li(|uid, which efl'ectually seems to jjrotect the animal from the injurious effects 

 of the wa*cr in which it is so constantly inmicrsed. I once sjjoiled a pair of 

 gloves entirely by ])atting the male animal at ])resent in the Zoological Gardens. 

 The mouth is enonnous, and its size is greatly increased by the odd manner in 

 which the jaw is set in the head. 



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