336 EFFICIENT PREPARA710N IN AMMUNITION AND AR1V13. 



" Occasionally during the day, they were to be seen basking 

 on the shore, amid ooze and mud ; but shots were most constantly to 

 be had at their uncouth heads, when protruded from the water to 

 draw breath ; and if killed, the body rose to the surface. Vulnerable 

 only behind the ear, however, or the eye, which is placed in a prom- 

 inence, so as to resemble the garret window of a Dutch house, they 

 require the perfection of rifle practice, and after a few shots become 

 exceedingly shy, exhibiting the snout only, and as instantly with- 

 drawing it. 



" The hide is upward of an inch and a half in thickness, and 

 being scarcely flexible, may be dragged from the ribs like planks 

 from the ship's side." 



" The track of the hippopotamus may be distinguished from any 

 other animal by a line of unbroken herbage which is left behind the 

 marks of the feet of each side, as the width of the space between 

 the right and left legs causes the animal to place its feet so consider- 

 ably apart as to make a distinct double track. 



THE HIPPOPOTAMUS DISAPPEARING FAST. 



" It may be remarked that the hippopotamus, as well as the ele- 

 phant and rhinoceros, is fast disappearing in all the countries where 

 It exists, before the incessant and destructive war made upon it by 

 firearms. It could resist, and for ages did resist, the rude and 

 ineffective weapons of savages and barbarians, living and multiply- 

 ing in spite of them ; but the species nmst soon yield to the destructive 

 propensity and power of civilized men." 



" After seeing the animal plunging about in his bath, diving 

 with ease, and traversing the bottom of the tank as if it were dry 

 land, one can the better appreciate the difticulties attending a struggle 

 which I recently witnessed : 



'' There were four of them, three cows and an old bull. They 

 stood in the middle of the river, and, although alarmed, did not 

 appear aware of the extent of the impending danger. 



" I took the sea-cow next me, and with my first ball I gave her 

 a mortal w^ound, knocking loose a great plate on the top of her skull. 

 She at once commenced plunging round and round, and occasionally 



