40 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



however, occurs only when they are being hunted, or when they 

 are protecting their young. 



Their thick, pale chocolate-colored skin is rough and warty, 

 and without hairs, except about the muzzle and at the end of the 

 short tail. The young differ from the adults in being smaller, 

 and paler, almost pink, in color. They ride about on the back of 

 the mother, and are apparently ignored by the males. 



The hide of the Hippo is covered with a natural oil, which is 

 poured out through pores in the skin, and appears to be for the 

 purpose of preserving the animal from the injurious effects of too 

 long continued immersion in the water. This oil is reddish, 

 somewhat resembling blood, and oozes out in large droplets. It 

 is this which has given rise to the false notion that the creature 

 "sweats blood." And the "Blood Sweating Behemouth of Holy 

 Writ" is a familiar sight to all lovers of the circu>^. 



Hippos are hunted for their hides, their flesh, and their fat. 

 From the hides, which are from one and one-half to two- inches 

 thick, are made shields, helmets, whips, and canes; while the fat 

 is used in various ways, and the flesh for food. The teeth, also, are 

 valuable, furnishing an important part of the ivory of commerce. 



THE ELEPHANT 



The Elephant is the mightiest and most majestic of all the land 

 animals, and one of the largest creatvires that has ever lived on 

 our earth. In fact it is surpassed in size today only by the great 

 Blue Rorqual Whale, which often reaches a length of over 80 feet. 



There are two kinds, or species, of elephants; the African, 

 which lives in the dense forests of Africa ; and the Indian, inhabit- 

 ing certain parts of India. The Indian elephant differs from its 

 African brother in that it is not so large and its ears are smaller, 

 its head longer, with a concave forehead. Its eyes, too are not 

 so large, in most cases. The great ears of the African Elephant 

 are always a source of wonder to small boys, as the great beast 

 goes stalking by in the circus parade, for they hang down far below 

 the neck, and are so large that a man may conceal himself behind 

 one of them with ease. The tusks of the African elephant are 

 much longer than those of the Indian species, and most of the ivory 

 of the world is obtained from them. It is said that about one 

 hundred thousand elephants are killed each year for their ivory. 



