THICK -SKINNED QUADKUPEDS. 189 



As the Hippopotamus lives upon fish and vegetables, so it 

 is probable the flesh of terrestrial animals may be equally grate- 

 ful : the natives of Africa assert, that it has often been found to 

 devour children and other creatures it was able to surprise upon 

 land ; yet as it moves but slowly, almost every creature endued 

 with a common share of swiftness is able to escape it; and, 

 therefore, it seldom ventures from the river side, except when 

 pressed by the necessities of hunger, or of bringing forth its 

 young. 



The female always comes upon la,nd to bring forth, and it 

 is supposed that she seldom produces above one at a time. Upon 

 this occasion these animals are particularly timorous, and dread 

 the approach of a terrestrial enemy. The instant the parent 

 hears the slightest noise it dashes into the stream, and the young 

 one is seen to follow it with equal alacrity. The young are said 

 to be excellent eating; but the Negroes, to whom nothing tha*. 

 has life comes amiss, find an equal delicacy in the old. 



