898 ON THE 



and walks at the bottom with the greatest ease, 

 only rising to the surface for a fresh supply of air $ 

 and though it is not provided like the Beaver j 

 with membranes between its toes, yet the buoy- 

 ancy of its body, enables it to swim with great 

 facility. 



Jn the countries which it inhabits, its flesh is 

 Considered by the Natives, a great luxury. Its 

 skin is made into whips, shields, and the like ; 

 and its tusks are sold as Ivory, which, as before 

 stated, is con>idered to be finer and superior for 

 many purposes, than that of the Elephant. So 

 that this animal so disgusting in its exterior 

 aspect and so remote and so peculiar in its haunts 

 and habits, is found out, and rendered subservient 

 to human purposes ; thus confirming a former ob- 

 servation, that the more we examine the works of 

 nature, the more are we convinced of the obvious 

 Utility of which each portion of it is susceptible. 



This animal which was well known to the 

 Romans, has been noticed in several passages in 

 scripture under the denomination of the Behe- 

 moth ; but particularly in the 40th. Chapter of 

 Job ; where its manners, food, and haunts, have 

 been well, but concisely described ; and 

 though in the- living state, it has only been found in 

 Africa, yet fossil remains of the Hippopotamus have 

 been discovered in the South of France, in several 

 parts of Italy, and lately at Brentford in this coun- 

 try, about thirty feet below the surface.* 

 " *The Head of a Hippopotamus has recently been brought 



