352 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



their noses among weeds, and sometimes they are so carefully concealed that but for their footprints 

 on the bank of the river their presence would be unsuspected. Gumming, in his African hunting 

 experiences, gives a description of seeing an entire colony of these animals 011 the banks of the 

 Limpopo. He says : " Presently in a broad and deeply shaded pool of the river we heard the Sea Cows 

 bellowing, and on approaching somewhat nearer beheld a wonderful and interesting sight. On a sandy 



COMMOX HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



promontory of the island stood about thirty cows and calves, whilst in the pool opposite and a little 

 below them stood about twenty more Sea Cows, with their heads and backs above water. About 

 fifty yards farther down the river, again showing out their heads, were eight or ten immense fellows, 

 which I think were all bulls, and about a hundred yards below these, in the middle of the stream, 

 stood another herd of eight or ten cows with calves, and two large bulls. The Sea Cows lay close 

 together like Pigs, and as they sprawl in the mire have not the least objection to their neighbours 

 pillowing their heads on their backs and sides." 



Livingstone also gives a description of seeing a herd of Hippopotami as follows : " On a 

 shallow sand bank, under a dyke crossing the River Zambesi near the mouth of the Sinjere, lay a 



