THE PIGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS 119 



years, but little has been added to our knowledge 

 of the pigmy hippopotamus since Morton's day. 

 It would be reasonable to infer from its non-elevated 

 orbits that the Liberian animal is not so aquatic as 

 the common species, which from the situation of 

 the eye on the summit of the face is well adapted 

 for river life. 1 This inference is borne out by 

 ascertained facts, the pigmy hippopotamus having 

 been found to frequent marshes and damp situa- 

 tions in woods rather than rivers, and to often 

 occur as far distant as two or three miles from any 

 considerable stream. Resembling the common 

 hippopotamus in its sluggish movements and its 

 tenacity of life, the pigmy species differs from it 

 in consorting in pairs only, and not in herds. 

 Largely nocturnal in its habits, the dwarf hippo- 

 potamus feeds on fruits and grasses, wandering 

 over large areas of forest, and hiding away during 

 the daytime being in fact a hippopotamus which 

 has adopted the terrestrial habits of a wild pig. 

 Like a pig also, it is said to be good eating and 

 the negroes pursue it on that account. From its 

 roving habits the dwarf hippopotamus, though 

 nowhere common, is said to be known everywhere 

 in its own distributional area : several localities 

 whence specimens have been obtained are recorded, 

 such as the Du Queah River and Fisherman Lake. 



1 The common hippopotamus having both nostrils, eyes, and ears 

 all on the same elevated level, can smell, see, and hear without 

 exposing itself much in the water. 



