114 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



The bull Hippopotamus reaches a length of twelve feet, but only 

 stands about five in height ; the female is smaller. The young Hippo 

 takes five years to grow up, and the animal's whole length of life is 

 about thirty years, judging from the ages attained by animals bred in 

 captivity. 



The Hippopotamus is one of the characteristic beasts of Africa, 

 having been originally distributed almost all over the river-systems 

 of that continent south of the Sahara. It has long, however, dis- 

 appeared from Lower Egypt, and has given way in other places to 

 human persecution. In habits it is essentially aquatic, though its 

 requirements are not exacting, as it is in many cases found on quite 

 small streams, so long as they contain pools sufficiently large for it 

 to shelter in. Although it can swim well enough, it is not, as the 

 small size of its feet show, especially a swimming animal ; its special 

 accomplishment is sinking below the surface and walking along the 

 bottom. It can remain under for more than five minutes, but cows 

 carrying a young calf rise more frequently than others, for the benefit 

 of the little one. 



On land the Hippopotamus is much more active than its awkward 

 shape would lead one to expect, and can gallop at a rate which would 

 give a man small chance of escape. It also climbs steep places 

 readily, and on occasions travels long distances overland from one 

 pool or stream to another; often so many animals have followed the 

 same path for such unnumbered generations that regular roads are 

 formed. The food of the animal consists of marsh vegetation and 

 grass; this it generally seeks by night, but is more ready to come 

 abroad by day where it has not been persecuted. Its depredations 

 on the crops of the natives are naturally very severe; for an animal 

 whose stomach is eleven feet long needs a great deal of material to 

 replenish it, while to the damage done by its appetite must be added 

 the trampling down of much more by the creature's movements. At 

 the same time, the great bulk and large food-requirements of the 

 Hippopotamus must make it useful in clearing away the rank growth of 

 aquatic plants which are constantly blocking up water-courses in Africa. 



