OUR LAST HIPPOPOTAMUS. 339 



the careful forethought, dauntless courage, and promp- 

 titude of action which are shown by those who have to 

 keep within due bounds such ferocious and powerful 

 brutes. It is the triumph of man's intellect over the 

 instinct of the beast. Here we have one of the largest, 

 fiercest, worst-tempered, most powerful animals on the 

 face of the earth utterly conquered by a few men, all of 

 whom it could tear to pieces if it only knew how strong 

 it is and how weak they are. They employ no weapons 

 — they use no terrorism ; and yet this dread beast is 

 absolutely powerless in their unarmed hands. So it is 

 throughout the whole system. 



For example, just before the birth of the young 

 hippopotamus there was a very difficult business with 

 the polar bears. A young male — quite a child — ^had 

 been lately admitted. When he was allowed to join 

 the original inhabitant he behaved himself very 

 badly — snarling, growling, and altogether making him- 

 self an abominable nuisance to an elderly and quiet 

 bear, who only wanted to be let alone. Presently he 

 got into the water and swam about merrily : but after 

 a little time he was evidently in difficulties. He 

 could not get out again. His hind legs were too 

 short to help him, and his forepaws could not hold the 

 smooth stone. Moreover, his for coat was dragging 

 him down. When a polar bear's coat is clean, it throws 

 oflF water like a duck's back, and the beast has a per- 

 fectly dry skin, though he may have been in the water 

 for 3 long time ; but if it be dirty it sucks in water 



