EFFICIENT PREPARATION IN AMMUNITION AND ARMS. 335 



sink, and to return to its former dimensions when it wishes to return 

 to the surface. It mostly affects the stillest reaches of the river, as 

 it is less exposed to the current, and not so liable to be swept down 

 the stream while asleep. 



The young hippopotamus is not able to bear submersion so long 

 as its parent, and is therefore carefully brought to the surface at 

 short intervals for the purpose of breathing. During the first few 

 months of the little animal's life, it takes its stand on its mother's 

 neck, and is borne by her above or through the water as experience 

 may dictate or necessity require. 



THE HIPPOPOTAMUS FIERCE FIGHTERS WHEN AROUSED. 



On shore the hippopotamus trots heavily, but with considerable 

 rapidity, and when two of them meet on solid ground they frequently 

 fight ferociously, rearing up on their hind feet, and biting one an- 

 other with great fury, so that according to African travelers, it is 

 rare to find a hippopotamus which has not some of its teeth broken, 

 or the scars of wounds upon his body. When not irritated they 

 appear to be quiet and inoffensive; but a very trifling irritation is 

 sufiicient to rouse their anger, when they attack the offender most 

 furiously wath their teeth. 



A hippopotamus which had been touched accidentally by a boat 

 turned upon it and tore out several of the planks, so that it was 

 with difficulty the crew got to shore. A hippopotamus has also been 

 known to kill some cattle, which were tied up near his haunts, with- 

 out the slightest provocation. 



Mr. Cuninghame, who was in Africa with Colonel Roosevelt, 

 gives the following account of the habits of the hippopotamus: 

 " This animal abounds in the Limpopo, dividing the empire wdth its 

 amphibious neighbor, the crocodile. Throughout the night the un- 

 wieldy monsters might be heard snorting and blowing during their 

 acquatic gambols, and we not un frequently detected them in the act 

 of sallying from their reed-grown coverts, to graze by the serene 

 light of the moon ; never, however, venturing to any distance from 

 the river, the stronghold to which they betake themselves on the 

 smallest alarm. 



