NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



The Hippo is usually shot from some place of 

 concealment on the bank. Like most other wild 

 animals, they often lose their lives owing to curiosity, 

 which impels them sometimes to put up their heads 

 to catch a glimpse of a passing boat or a man on the 

 bank ; and before the head can be withdrawn, they 

 are often fatally shot through the brain. When 

 shot in the water the Hippo sinks to the bottom 

 at once, but after eight or ten hours the carcase 

 floats owing to the development of gases in its 

 bowels. 



The Hippo gives vent to a deep, grunting roar, 

 followed by four or five shorter ones in rapid succes- 

 sion. To those who have never heard the voice of 

 the Hippo, the noise is usually very terrifying, for 

 the impression conveyed is that a troop of lions are 

 close at hand. 



A large species of blood-sucking fly often annoys 

 the Hippo when it lies in the shallows, by attacking 

 the vulnerable parts where the skin can be pene- 

 trated by its sharp proboscis. 



Major Stevenson-Hamilton tells of three lions 

 attacking an old bull Hippo on land. He trudged 

 off with them hanging around and on him, and 

 plunging into the water, at once rid himself of their 

 attentions. 



A single snap from a Hippo's great jaws would 

 instantly crush a lion to death. The hide is 

 fibrous and thick, and even a troop of several lions 

 would find a bull Hippo a tough foe to tackle. 

 164 



