HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



(Hippopotam ns - 1 iiipJi ibius, Lin n . L ' Hippopotame, 



Buff.) 



THE great difficulties that have always attended 

 a complete investigation of this huge animal, have 

 arisen as well from the remoteness of its situation, 

 as from its peculiar habits and disposition. 



Though the Hippopotamus has been celebrated 

 from the remotest antiquity ; though the sacred 

 writings mention him under the name of Behemoth ; 

 and though his figure is to be seen engraven on 

 Egyptian obelisks and on Roman medals, yet his 

 history was very imperfectly known to the ancients. 

 Aristotle says, that he has a mane like a Horse, 

 and hoofs like an Ox ; tusks and tail like a Boar ; 

 that he is of the size of an Ass, and has the voice of 

 a Horse ; with other things equally absurd ; all 

 which Pliny has copied ; and, instead of correcting, 

 has added to the number of his errors. Of the 

 accounts of later writers, it is much to be lamented 



