238 DR. MORTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON 



of the Hippopotamus of the Cape. He further admits the H. Liheriensis, (minor,) to be 

 perfectly distinct from either, and concludes his memoir by adopting three species of 

 living Hippopotami. All this is very well ; but we confess our surprise that M. 

 Duvernay, after confirming the two species proposed twenty years before by 

 M. Desmoulins, should, without note or explanation, give new names to them both. 

 Thus, he calls the Senegal and Abyssinian animal H. typus, because it has been 

 longest known to naturalists and others. The Cape species he designates H. australis. 



Now we must be allowed to repeat, that this unnecessary change of names is con- 

 trary to the conventional usages of naturalists, and hostile to the utility and integrity 

 of zoological nomenclature. For if M. Duvernay can be sustained in this innovation, 

 the very next writer on the subject has an equal right to indulge his fancy or 

 ambition in the same way, and may discard M. Duvernay's names for others of his 

 own. Such practices tend to interminable confusion in science, which is already 

 over-burthened with synonyma. 



In the present state of our knowledge, and awaiting the results of further 

 observation and comparison, we can only admit of two living species of Hippopotamus 

 as positively determined; viz. H. amphihius and H. Liberiensis. 



By the cruel munificence of the Roman Emperors, the solitudes of Europe, Asia 

 and Africa were annually taxed to furnish wild animals for the bloody sports of the 

 amphitheatre. Of all the large quadrupeds, the Hippopotamus was the only one that 

 escaped the sacrifice ; not on account of his size, which would have been no obstacle, 

 but from his amphibious habits, which prevented his being taken to Rome or 

 exhibited in Europe. But the smaller species I now introduce to notice, is of so 

 moderate a bulk, even in adult age, as to render his capture and transportation of 

 comparatively easy accomplishment; and I feel confident that nothing more will be 

 necessar}' to success, than an adequate reward to such of the inhabitants of Liberia as 

 may be disposed to attempt so novel an enterprise. A half grown animal, if not 

 really docile might at least prove tractable ; and by a studious adaptation of his food? 

 and attention to his aquatic habits, we can see no great difficulty in introducing the 

 Liberian Hippopotamus into the menageries of Europe and America. The skin and 

 entire skeleton can no doubt be readily obtained, and would constitute most 

 instructive additions to any collection of zoology or comparative anatomy. I shall 

 close this paper by stating the remarkable fact, that although this Hippopotamus is 

 abundant within one hundred and fifty miles of the sea coast of Liberia, the only 

 parts of him that are known to have ever been sent from Africa, are the two skulls in 

 my possession. I cannot find that any portion of the animal is yet contained in the 

 museums of Europe.* 



* I sent my specimens to London by the hands of Mr. (now Sir Charles) Lyell, that they might be examined by 

 those distinguished comparative anatomists, Professor Owen, of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Dr. Hugh 

 Falconer, author of the Fauna Sivalensis. 



