NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 185 



was in one of the compartments of the wing of the giraffe-house, 

 on the opposite side to that in which its bath is prepared. It 

 carries its head rather depressed, and reminded me most of a huge 

 prize hog, but with a breadth of muzzle and other features pecu- 

 liarly its own. The keeper opened the door leading into the 

 giraffe's paddock, and walked through that to the new wing con- 

 taining the bath, the hippopotamus following like a dog close to 

 his heels. On arriving at the bath-room the animal descended 

 with some deliberation the flight of low steps leading into the 

 water, stooped and di'ank a little, dipped his head under, and then 

 plunged forwards. It was no sooner in its favourite element than 

 its whole aspect changed, and it seemed inspired with new life and 

 activity : sinking down to the bottom, and moving about sub- 

 merged for awhile, it would suddenly rise mth a bound almost 

 bodily out of the water, and splashing back commenced swimming 

 and plunging about with a cetaceous or porpoise-like rolling from 

 side to side, taking in mouthsfid of water and spurting them out 

 again, raising every now and then its huge grotesque head, and 

 biting the woodwork at the margin of the bath. The broad round 

 back of the animal being now chiefly in view, it looks a much 

 larger animal than when out of the water. After half-an-hour 

 spent in this amusement it quitted the water at the call of its 

 keeper, and followed him back to the sleeping-room, which is well 

 bedded with straw, and where a stuffed sack is provided for its 

 pillow, of which the animal, having a very short neck, thicker than 

 the head, duly avails itself when it sleeps. 



I was tolcl that when it was at Cairo it ate a good deal 

 of clay; and the Arabs, it seems, have expressed a desire 

 that it should have some here. I believe that it is per- 

 fectly safe in the hands of Mr. Mitchell ; and if it should 

 be thought fit to indulge it with clay, those whom its odd 

 ways delight may rest secure that Mr. Mitchell will not 

 let Hippo be bricked up with our London clay ; but if 

 clay must be given, will prescribe some of the mud of 

 the Colne or Thames, wherein the water-lilies grow so 

 luxuriantly. In the stomachs of the young hippopotamus 

 opened by Sparrman there was a good deal of ' dirt,' with 

 curd and leaves quite fresh ; and it is not improbable 

 that this ' dirt' may be required by the animal to correct 

 the acidity arising from its diet, as calves lick chalk. In 

 scooping up the water-plants from the bottoms of rivers 



