THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 



the animal on the English shore of the Victoria- Ny- 

 anza. 



Not so long ago a kind of pygmy hippopotamus was 

 discovered in Liberia, West Africa. Little is known 

 about this small species. It appears to be restricted to 

 the Guinea coast, to be less aquatic than its larger East 

 African relation, to live in pairs but not in herds, and 

 to wander and seek its food in the swampy rivers of the 

 virgin woods. From the time of Herodotus to our own 

 many travellers have told us that the " river - horse " 

 is malicious, dangerous, and aggressive; others that it 

 is peaceful and inoffensive. The latter opinion is prob- 

 ably the correct one ; but where it is much hunted it is 

 apt to merit the harsher opinion. 



Hunting the " river- h»rse " is a pretty harmless affair 

 compared with hunting other big animals, such as the 

 lion, elephant, or rhinoceros, and it is consequently much 

 indulged in by travellers and natives. It furnishes to 

 the latter large quantities of palatable flesh. 



The hippopotami are often found in considerable num- 

 bers during the dry season in deep river - pools which 

 retain their water or in small lakes. They offer then 

 a great temptation to reckless nimrods of a certain kind. 

 But also a true sportsman may kill more animals than 

 he really intends to, if he is not well acquainted with 

 their nature and habits. 



An officer of the German colonial troops told me him- 

 self that he had unwillingly and unwittingly killed over 



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