420 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



and Spanish Guinea, are undoubtedly based on faulty information; 

 nor can any credence be given the report published by Letcher 

 (1911) of its presence in Rhodesia. 



Biittikofer states that, unlike its larger relative, it is not social 

 but solitary, or at times is found in pairs. In his experience, each 

 pair seemed to have its special area, so that although it may be 

 well known in a district, it is nowhere common in its restricted 

 range. It is found in the streams and wet forests and swamps and 

 is less given to purely aquatic life than the large Hippo. It is 



FIG. 43. Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) 



largely inactive by day, but by night wanders forth to seek by stream 

 and forest the shoots, leaves, and fallen forest fruits on which it 

 subsists. In swampy places its short legs sink deep so that it's 

 body leaves a trail. Biittikofer secured three specimens for the 

 Leiden Museum, but apparently himself saw little of the animal. 

 He speaks of the natives' relish for the flesh, which tastes like that 

 of a wild pig. To the native Liberians it is known as "sea-cow" or 

 "water-cow." 



Apparently the first to attempt the capture of living specimens for 

 exhibition was Hans Schomburgk, who in 1911-12 after much effort 

 succeeded in capturing a pair by means of pitfalls. These were 

 sold by Hagenbeck to the New York Zoological Society. Another 

 was sent to the National Zoological Park at Washington in 1927, 

 and there have been captive specimens in the London Zoological 

 Gardens. Schomburgk (1912) has given an account of his search 

 for this species and its capture. Other than for food it is of no 



