ANIMAL GIANTS ii 



I noticed with interest that it was about four feet high at the 

 shoulder. This height is exceeded in some instances, but five feet 

 may be mentioned as the limit. 



The species attains a length of from twelve to fourteen feet, 

 and in weight is a close rival of the Elephant, turning the scale at 

 as much as four tons. The hide, too, is very thick and heavy; 

 indeed this alone will weigh five hundredweights when freshly 

 taken off. It is dense and tough, as well as rough and warty. 

 Close examination will show that it is almost naked with the excep- 

 tion of some short bristles near the end of the tail. 



The male Hippo is dark brown, whilst his consort is of a 

 yellowish colour. 



As those who have fed this creature will know, the mouth is of 

 large dimensions, and, says Mr. Selous, "the lower canine teeth or 

 tusks grow to a great size, and in bulls may weigh from four to 

 seven pounds each. They are curved in shape, and when extracted 

 from the jaw form a complete half-circle, and have been known to 

 measure upwards of thirty inches over the curve. In life, how- 

 ever, not more than a third of their length protrudes beyond the 

 gums." 



The lower incisors, as may be imagined, aid the creature in 

 cutting, as with a scythe, various aquatic herbage upon which it 

 feeds. The massive jaws are extremely powerful, and, iaided by these 

 and the formidable teeth, it is small wonder that the animal has 

 been known to sever a man's body asunder at one stroke ! 



Although awkward on land, it can, if needs be, travel fairly 

 fast for a restricted distance. The water, however, is undoubtedly 

 its home, and there it swims with ease and facility and can walk 

 on the bed of the river with comparative comfort. 



The hide and tusks are both valuable, hence we find that this 

 mammalian monarch is much sought after, and is often secured by 

 the natives by means of a levered-trap and a poisoned spear which 

 is heavily weighted. The natives find the spoor of the Hippo and 

 then set their trap in his path, and sooner or later secure him. 



In spite of his huge body we learn that this animal is not 

 particularly tenacious of life, and — although it is cold-blooded 

 slaughter hardly worth chronicling — "Mr. Neumann once killed 

 four in four consecutive shots." 



RHINOCEROSES — There are two kinds of Rhinoceroses illus- 

 trated in Figs. 6 and 7, and these are easily distinguished one 



