j20 THE BEHEMOTH. 



been satisfactorily settled, but it is believed to be about ten minutes. The full- 

 grown animal is a dozen feet in length and as much in circumference. Its legs are 

 so short that, where the ground is uneven, the belly touches the earth when the mon- 

 ster walks, so that it resembles a huge hogshead mounted on four billets of wood. Its 

 nostrils and ears are on the same plane, its ears small, sharp and stiff, and its hide, of 

 a dirty chocolate color, is an inch and a half thick. I can conceive of no more 

 repulsive sight than that of its mouth when fully open. 



The teeth of the hippopotamus are very formidable, their number, form and 

 situation varying with its years. The canines are immense tusks, resembling a 

 chisel, and help to form a fitting apparatus for grinding the supply for a stomach 

 which is capable of containing six bushels of food. 



Both the jaws are movable and constitute a terrible engine for crushing its prey, 

 whether seated in a boat or unprotected in the water. 



Although many claim that the hippopotamus is more stupid than the pig, yet in 

 some respects he shows remarkable cunning. It is almost impossible to ensnare 

 him, for, no matter how carefully the contrivance is hidden, the huge beast seems 

 to suspect something is wrong, and, after pausing a minute or two, will deliberately 

 walk around the trap upon which the native has set such hopes. 



As a rule, hippopotami are found in families of a dozen or a score, though some- 

 times the single members are detached for a greater or less time. 



The nostrils are so placed that they are the first part of the animal to appear 

 when he rises to the surface, and, like those of the seal, they arc closed, while he 

 takes a promenade along the bed of his river home. 



The eyes at first sight appear to have an unusual protuberance, but this is a 

 wise provision of nature, as seen in the eagle and some other birds of prey, where 

 the muscles and horny rings constitute a telescopic apparatus which allows the 

 organs to be protruded or withdrawn at will. 



I once heard a mischievous lad express the wish that his eyes were constructed 

 on the same principle, so as to permit him to look behind him without moving his 

 head. Thus he would be enabled to detect his teacher or any frolicsome play- 

 mate trying to steal upon him. 



I have referred to the voice of the hippopotamus, but it is of a nature that is 

 hard to describe. One hunter speaks of it as a loud and short, harsh note, uttered 

 four or five times quickly and suggesting the snort of a horse, ending with an ex- 

 plosive sound like a bark. 



An excellent authority represents the sounds by the letters " heurah hurh hesk- 

 heoh!" the first two combinations being uttered in a hoarse, sharp, tremulous tone, 

 like the grunting of animals, while the compound word is shot forth and resembles 

 the neigh of a horse. 



However, if it is ever your fortune to hear the cry of the beast, you will admit 

 that it is difficult to describe. 



Recalling the situation of our friends, Mr. Godkin and Jack Harvey were stand- 

 ing, rifles in hand, on the farther side of the river, on the watch for the appearance 



