492 MEMORY HABITS. 



Its memory is also considered good. "When once a hip- 

 popotamus," says the author just quoted, " has been assailed 

 in its watery dwelling, and injured from incautiously expos- 

 ing itself, it will rarely be guilty of the same indiscretion a 

 second time; and though its haunts may not again be ap- 

 proached by hunters till after a long period has elapsed, it 

 will survey such approaches, and perform the movements 

 necessary for its respiration with a degree of caution, which 

 clearly shows that it has not forgotten the misfortunes to 

 which an opposite course had exposed it." 



The hippopotamus is gregarious, and is usually found in 

 troops of from five or six, to as many as twenty or thirty. 

 It is amusing to watch these animals when congregated ; to 

 see them alternately rising and sinking, as if impelled by 

 some invisible agency, in the while snorting most tremen- 

 dously, and blowing the water in every direction. At others, 

 they will remain perfectly motionless near the surface, with 

 the whole or part of their heads protruding. In this posi- 

 tion they look, at a little distance, like so many rocks. 



The hippopotamus is a nocturnal animal, and seldom or 

 never feeds except during the night. He usually passes most 

 part of the day in the water, but it is somewhat doubtful 

 if this be not rather from necessity than choice. Indeed, in 

 more secluded localities, one most commonly sees it reclining 

 in some retired spot: "He lieth under the shady trees, in 

 the covert of the reeds and fens. The shady trees co\ er him 

 with their shadows, the willows of the brook compass him 

 about." Or it may be under shelter of an overhanging dry 

 bank ; or, at least, with its body partially out of the water. 

 I have not unfrequently found the animal in this situation, 

 and once shot an immense fellow while fast asleep, with his 

 head resting on the bank of the river. 



"When, from fear of enemies, the hippopotamus is com- 

 pelled to remain in the water throughout the day, it takes 

 the shore on the approach of night in order to feed. Just as 



