AMPHIBIOUS HIPPOPOTAMUS. 443 



tion dt' mankind in tin- r.u ii.-st ages. It is a 

 native of tlic wanner regions of the globe, and 

 i-> chiefly found in the middle parts ot' Africa, in- 

 habiting large rivers, and especially such as run 

 through countries overshadowed by large forests; 

 walki it at the bottom, anil raising itself at 



intervals to the surface, for the purpose of respiia- 

 tion. ly night it quits it watery residence, to 



( in the neighbouring plains, devouring great 

 quantities of herbage, and with its vast teeth de- 

 stroying the more tender kind of trees and other 

 It is sunietimes seen even in the sea, at 

 some distance from the mouths of rivers; hut this 



j>poscd to be merely for the purpose of spatiat- 

 ing niore at large, by way of exercise; for it will 

 not even drink -,i!r water, and doe* not prey on fish, 

 or indeed live on any kind ot' animal food. The 

 general si/c of the Hippopotamus seems tobencaily 



.1 to that of the Rhinoceros, and it is some- 

 times even superior* Its form is highly uncouth; 

 tlu body being extremely laru aid; 



the legs \c:\ short and thick; the head 

 large: the mouth extremely wide, and the teeth 

 t strength and si/ ( ; more particularly the 

 r canine teeth of the lower jaw, which 



* Authors vary considerably in their account* of the size of this 

 animal. It u said that some specimens have mensural seventeen 

 feet in length, *evcn in height, and fifteen in circumference, the 

 head alone measuring three feet and a half. It U added, that 

 twelve oxen have been found necessary to draw one ashore which 

 had been shot in a river. HasscLjuist says the hide U a load for a 

 Camel. 





