THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 309 



I examined a feclion of one of thefe tubes with 

 the microfcope, and found feven roots iiThing 

 from one tube. Thefe feven roots afterwards 

 fplit, and each gave rife to leveral hairs, which 

 formed a kind of pencil. 



On the fides of the mouth, toward the lower 

 part, I faw fome fine hairs, which were placed 

 nearer each other than the former. 



Befides, 1 found here and there upon the body 

 fome fcattered hairs ; but there were none upon 

 the legs, flanks, or belly. 



The extremity and edges of the tail were 

 garniihed with pencils of hair, like the nofe ; 

 but they were a little longer. 



I could not difcover the fex of this animal. 

 Near the fundament there was a kind of trian- 

 gular pinked aperture, about fix inches wide, 

 where I imagined the organs of generation had 

 been fituated ; but, as no veftige of them re- 

 mained, it was impofiible to afcertain the fex. 



The (kin of the belly, near the hind legs, was 

 an inch and nine lines thick : Here the infects 

 had made a hole, which rendered it an eafy 

 matter to meafure the thicknefs. The fubftance 

 of the fkin was white, cartilaginous, and coria- 

 ceous ; and, at this place, it was well feparated 

 from the fat and flefh. Higher up, toward the 

 back, a good deal of the fkin had been pared off, 

 with a view, no doubt, to render it lighter for 

 carnage. It was for this reafon that the fkin 



U 3 about 



