400 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



easily shot as many other animals. Their great size is 

 nothing in favour of the marksman; and, unless he aim 

 with as much precision as if it were but a hare, he fires in 

 vain. 



When no more than the upper part of the head is seen 

 above the water, it appears very much like the head of 

 a horse, and sufficiently justifies (says Mr. Burchell) the 

 name of Hippopotamus, given to it by the Ancients, who, 

 as this circumstance seems to prove, could rarely have had 

 a sight of the entire animal, otherwise they would have 

 discovered, that, of all quadrupeds, this bears, in form 

 and general appearance, the least resemblance to a horse. 

 Nor can anything be more inapplicable than the colonial 

 name of zeekoe, sea-cow, to which animal it has not the 

 slightest resemblance. M. F. Cuvier, however, conjectures 

 that its ancient name has reference to its voice, which 

 Adanson informs us is like neighing. The name Cheropo- 

 tamus, or River-Hog, has been suggested instead of Hip- 

 popotamus, or River-Horse. A more perfect analogy gives 

 a preference to the former, but both are objectionable in 

 strictness, by conveying a notion of generic identity, when 

 a generic analogy or partial similitude only exists. 



It would be interesting to be better acquainted with the 

 biography of this mammiferous tenant of the African rivers. 

 Its habits and location must bring it very much into contact 

 with the Crocodile and its consimilars, on whose natural 

 domicile the Hippopotamus seems to intrude. Were it not 

 superior in strength to these formidable and ferocious rep- 

 tiles, it would soon be driven from its watery retreat, but 

 we hear of no struggles between these animals. As in all 

 others, their relative capabilities seem known instinctively 

 to each other ; and while the strongest has no inclination 

 to attack, the weakest is afraid of hostility. It may be 

 remarked, that whatever superiority of intellectual powers 

 is to be found relatively among the lower animals, such 



