NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 59 



for the coarse, tough plants which are transmitted to a 

 stomach capable of containing, in a full-grown hii:»popo- 

 tamus, five or six bushels, and a large intestine some 

 eight inches in diameter. Three bushels, at least, of 

 half-masticated vegetables have been taken from the 

 stomach and intestines of one half-grown. But it is 

 impossible to look upon these fearful teeth without 

 thinking of defensive and offensive weapons, fit to correct, 

 or even attack a crocodile, if it should venture to take 

 liberties, or approach too near, in its plated armour. " It 

 is on record that, when irritated or exasperated by 

 wounds, the bite of the hippopotamus has sunk a boat. 

 Nor would we rely so much upon its abstinence from 

 animal food (though we do not give implicit credit to 

 the lamentable statement in Alexander's letter to 

 -Aristotle, that the hippopotami, rushing from the depths 

 of the river, devoured the light troops which he had 

 sent to swim across), as to feel quite certain that if such 

 luckless wanderers were to come in its way when it was 

 hungry, it would not give a zest to its salads with a 

 tender young crocodile or two. Major Denham states 

 that the flesh of the crocodile is extremely fine, that it 

 has firm green fat resembling the turtle, and that the 

 callipee has the colour, firmness, and flavour of the 

 finest veal. Mr, Bullock gave me the same account of 

 the flesh of the alligator, as far as the similitude to veal 

 goes. I presume both travellers were speaking of young 

 saurians ; for the patriarchs give out a very strong 

 musky smell. 



The formidable teeth of the hippopotamus are masked, 

 when the animal is not excited, by immense lips, and 

 the body is wrapped in a coating of fat, which, in its 

 turn, is shielded by a thick, smooth, tough hide — of 

 which more anon. 



The longest of the two hippopotami measured by 

 Zerenghi was sixteen feet nine inches in length, its 



