DOMESTICATION KNOWN TO THE ANCIENTS. 



493 



it emerges into the shallows, it has the peculiar habit of per- 

 forming some of the functions of nature, during which it 

 keeps rapidly thumping the surface of the water with its 

 stumpy tail, thereby creating a very great noise. I have 

 known from twenty to thirty hippopotami thus occupied at 

 once ; and, to add to the din, they would at the same time 

 grunt and bellow to such a degree as to deprive our party of 

 the rest that exhausted nature but too much needed. 



During the nocturnal excursions of the hippopotamus on 

 land, it wanders at times to some distance from the water. 

 On one occasion the animal took us by surprise, for, without 

 the slightest warning, it suddenly protruded its enormous 

 head within a few feet of our bivouac, causing every man to 

 start to his feet with the greatest precipitation, some of us, in 

 the confusion, rushing into the fire and upsetting the pots 

 containing om* evening meal. 



The hippopotamus would seem to be easily domesticated. 

 We may judge so, at least, from the fine specimens now in the 

 Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, which are as manageable 

 as most of the lars-er animals of that maornificent establish- 

 ment. Though these are the first living specimens that ever 

 found their way into England, the ancient Romans (who, dur- 

 ing their conquests in Northern Africa, became acquainted 

 with the hippopotamus) held them in captivity. This may 



be safely inferred ; for " on a medal of 

 the Emperor Philip, or rather of his 

 Queen Otacilla Severa is (as seen in 

 the adjoining wood-cut) a very strik- 

 ing likeness of a young, and, perhaps, 

 hungry hippopotamus, designed by 

 some Wyon of the day. This is, per- 

 haps, the earliest good figure of the 

 MEDAL. creature ; and its representation on 



such a place shows in what estimation, as a novelty, it was 

 held." 



