394 HOOFED ANIMALS 



monster treads upon a lever which liberates a heavily 

 weighted spear suspended overhead. The weapon, having 

 a poisoned tip, does not take immediate effect, but sooner or 

 later the native discovers the dead body, and thus secures 

 his prize without the danger that surrounds a personal 

 encounter. The huge animal is not particularly tenacious 

 of life Mr. Neumann once killed four in four consecutive 

 shots. 



The Hippopotamus grazes in the night, but during the 

 day it may be seen disporting itself in the water, puffing 

 and snorting and blowing water in jets from its nostrils, 

 or else standing quite motionless with not even the whole 

 of the head above the water. Travellers thus coming upon 

 the monster unawares have had good reason to remember 

 it. Upon one occasion a Hippopotamus not only damaged 

 the paddlewheels of a steamer, but dug holes in the bottom 

 of it with its tusks ; and native boats, twenty to thirty feet 

 in length, are frequently hurled completely out of the water. 



Dr. Livingstone made acquaintance with the Hippo- 

 potamus when much less was known of its habits than is 

 the case to-day, but his observations still hold good in every 

 respect : ' The still reaches are their favourite haunts, as 

 elsewhere the constant exertion necessary to keep them- 

 selves from being carried down the stream disturbs their 

 nap. They remain by day in a drowsy, yawning state, 

 taking little notice of things at a distance. The males utter 

 loud, snorting grunts, which may be heard a mile off. The 

 young ones stand on the necks of their dams, and their 

 small heads appear first above the surface as they rise to 

 breathe. The dam, knowing the more urgent need of her 

 calf, rises more frequently when it is in her care.' In 

 several miles of river as many as two or three hundred 

 monsters may still be seen, so that it does not appear likely 

 that the animal is in danger of extinction. 



Another species of the family is the Liberian, or Pigmy, 

 Hippopotamus (Chceropsis liberiensis), inhabiting West and 

 Central Africa, and especially Upper Guinea. It is a smaller 

 and much rarer animal than the foregoing. 



