332 FAMILY SUIDJE ; HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



thick, and very blunt muzzle. The incisors and canines of the 

 lower jaw are long and curved forwards ; but the lips are so 

 large, as usually to conceal them. The canines of the two jaws 

 rub against each other, as in the Rodentia, and are continually 

 growing at the base, from a persistent pulp. The stomach is 

 partially divided into several sacs. The feet possess four toes, 

 terminated in separate hoofs. The nostrils open on the top of 

 the muzzle, and the eyes, which are very small, are situated high 

 in the head ; hence the animal, whilst its body is submerged in 

 the water, can look around and breathe, by raising but a very 

 small portion of the head above the surface. As its name 

 imports, it passes a large part of its time in the water ; usually 

 quitting it by night in search of its food, which consists of the 

 herbage that grows near the banks of the rivers and lakes. It 

 is not confined to rivers, however ; for it also tenants the inland 

 lakes, and seems equally disposed to take up its abode in the sea, 

 keeping however near the shore. It commonly resorts to 

 places where it can walk along the bottom, covered with a few 

 feet of water ; and comes every five or six minutes to the surface 

 to breathe. It is gregarious in its habits ; and sagacious and 

 wary in its disposition. It seems quite inoffensive when left to 

 itself, but shows great fury when attacked ; and will sometimes 

 become the assailant upon a very slight accidental provocation. 

 It is believed that two species of this animal exist ; though 

 the differences between them have not been satisfactorily ascer- 

 tained. Their range was formerly much greater than at present ; 

 for they gradually retreat as Man advances; but they are very 

 troublesome on the borders of some of the colonies, destroying 

 whole plantations to satisfy the wants of their enormous fabrics. 

 They are in their turn objects of pursuit, on account of their flesh 

 and hide ; the former is much in request, and the layer of fat 

 which lies beneath the skin is considered a peculiar delicacy ; 

 the hide is of enormous thickness, being two inches deep 

 or more on the back and sides, and is made into shields, 

 whips, walking-sticks, &c. Remains of four species of Hip- 

 popotamus have been found in a fossil state in Europe, asso- 

 ciated with those of the Elephant and Rhinoceros ; indicating 



