116 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



Nile, was brought to the London Zoological Gardens, and, when a 

 mate was obtained for him, bred there. Since then Hippopotami 

 have been better known in menageries, and have bred elsewhere. 

 They thrive well enough, but must be kept warm in winter, and 

 either have constant access to a bath or be bathed by hand, or their 

 skin will soon become disordered. It may be mentioned, in conclusion, 

 that the Hippopotamus is supposed to be the " Behemoth " of Scrip- 

 ture, and that an extinct species, found fossil in India, was probably 

 the " Water Elephant " of Sanscrit writers. At any rate, this semi- 

 mythical beast, though represented on ancient Indian sculptures with 

 an Elephant's head and fore-feet and Dolphin's hinder-parts, is there 

 given teeth which are somewhat like those of a Hippopotamus, but 

 utterly different from the Elephant's. 



THE PIGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS 



(Hippopotamus liberiensis) 



THERE is only one other living species of Hippopotamus the much 

 smaller kind confined to the tropical parts of Western Africa. This is 

 not bigger than a large Pig, and in its general form is like the young 

 of the ordinary species, as it has not the huge muzzle of the large 

 Hippopotamus. In colour also it is different, being of a greenish 

 cast, shading into yellowish below, and it has only one pair of incisors 

 in the lower jaw. The accounts, however, which represent it as being 

 not so fully aquatic as the large kind, but more like a Pig in habits, 

 seem not to be correct, for Sir Harry Johnston has recently stated, 

 in his book on Liberia, that the small Hippopotamus is also a water- 

 animal. But it is a little-known creature, and only one short-lived 

 specimen has reached England. 



