THE PIGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS 125 



slaughtered by old-time manners : these sailors 

 being white men, presumably enlightened by some 

 degree of civilisation. One cannot expect the 

 natives of so savage a country as Liberia to be 

 more merciful than whites towards the beasts of 

 the chase : or to show any sentimental scruples 

 about destroying the toothsome pigmy hippo- 

 potamus, whose dull wits, defenceless jaws, and 

 limited range so heavily handicap him in the 

 struggle for existence. The protection of Hippo- 

 potamus liberiensis is a matter of urgency. Carpe 

 diem ! 



