44 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



having a poisoned spear-head at the other. A cord is 

 connected with this log, and when the Hippopotamus 

 treads on this, the log descends, plunging the poisoned 

 spear into his body. Rifles and harpoons are often used, 

 for you must know that the flesh of the Hippopotamus is 

 much valued by the colonists under the name of "zee- 

 koe speck," or " sea-cow bacon," as are also the tongue 

 and the jelly extracted from the feet. The teeth, which 

 weigh from five to eight pounds each, afford an extremely 

 white ivory, which is used in the manufacture of scales 

 of various philosophical instruments, and its hide, which 

 is so thick that it has to be removed from the body in 

 strips like so many planks, is used in making shields, 

 whips, walking-sticks, and various other purposes. 



The Wild Hog, or Boar, is the original from which 

 the domesticated race of Pigs is descended. This group 

 of animals is found in all the divisions of the globe, and 

 although the wilder kind is now extirpated from Britain, 

 of which it was formerly a native, it still ranges through 

 the forests of France, Germany, and other parts of Europe, 

 and boar hunting has in all ages been a favourite sport. 

 The snout is longer and the tusks arc larger than in those 

 of the domestic Pig family, and it is by far stronger and 

 more savage, but there are no other differences. The hogs 

 do not restrict themselves to vegetable food, but eat flesh ; it 

 is said, however, that they do not kill other animals unless 

 infuriated, but devour any such food which may fall in 

 their way. They have two large middle toes covered by 

 strong hoofs, and two at the side which are not long 

 enough to touch the ground, but which, no doubt, serve to 

 prevent the foot sinking deep into the muddy and marshy 

 ground in which hogs love to wallow. 



The Tapir is something like the Hog in shape, but its 

 snout is prolonged into a short trunk, which it can use in 

 breaking off the young branches of trees, fruits, c., on 



