86 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



antiquity, and is mentioned in the Book of Job under the name 

 of Behemoth ; but although its figure is found engraven on Egyp- 

 tian obelisks and Roman medals, it was imperfectly known to 

 the ancient naturalists. Pliny, instead of correcting, has copied, 

 and even multiplied the errors of Aristotle, and the example has 

 been imitated by succeeding writers. 



As the Hippopotamus mostly resides at the bottom of great 

 rivers, it is not easy to ascertain its size. M. Vaillant informs 

 us, that one which he shot, measured from the muzzle to the in- 

 sertion of the tail, ten feet seven inches, and eight feet in cir- 

 cumference, but from the smallness of its tusks, he supposed it 

 to be a young one. Dr. Goldsmith says, than an Italian surgeon 

 having procured one from the Nile, found it to measure seven- 

 teen feet in length, and sixteen round the body. Its height did 

 not exceed seven feet, and the jaws, when extended, were two 

 feet wide. Ray says, that its upper jaw is moveable like that of 

 the crocodile. In each jaw it has four cutting teeth ; it has also 

 four large tusks : those of the under jaw, which are the largest, 

 are sometimes above two feet long. The canine teeth are said 

 to be so hard as to emit fire, when struck with steel : they are 

 extremely white, and for the purpose of making artificial teeth, 

 are preferred to ivory. The grinders are square or oblong, and 

 weigh sometimes more than three pounds. The skin is of a 

 dusky colour, and although less callous, is thicker than that of 

 the rhinoceros, and is manufactured into whips. The tail is 

 about a foot long, tapered and flattened at the end, which is 

 thinly planted with bristly hairs. The legs are so short, that its 

 belly almost touches the ground, and the hoofs are divided into 

 four parts unconnected by membranes. Some writers represent 

 the figure of this animal as an intermediate form, between the 

 ox and the hog. The Hippopotamus, although little inferior in 

 size to the elephant, and of a figure calculated to inspire terror, 

 is formidable in appearance, rather than in reality. Its disposi- 

 tion is mild and gentle, except when provoked or wounded. 

 When this happens in the water, where its activity is equal to its 

 courage, it will rise and attack boats or canoes,. in the most fu- 

 rious and fearless manner. Dampier says, that he has known 

 one of these animals sink a boat full of people, by tearing a hole 

 in the bottom with its tusks. On the land, its movements are 

 heavy ; and the method of taking it, is by digging pits in those 

 parts through which it passes in its way to the river, when it re- 

 turns from feeding. 



These animals seldom go far from the rivers, unless their banks 

 fail of affording them a sufficiency of food. In that case, they 

 sometimes stray into cultivated grounds, where, like the rhino- 

 ceros and the elephant, they make dreadful havoc, as they not 



