356 HIPPOPOTAMIDvE. 



"The WUd Pigs of Obbo, Central Africa, live underground; they 

 take possession of the holes made by the Manis ; these they enlarge 

 and form cool and secure retreats." — Baker, ' Albert N'yanza,' ii. 

 p. 66. 



Subsection II. The front part of the jaws dilated and truncated. The noS' 

 trils on the upper surface of the nose) closed hy a valve. Eyes high up 

 on the sides of the head, on a line with the base of the ears. Aquatic. 



Suborder VI. OBESA. 



Face wide, depressed ; eyebrow and orbit higher than the 

 forehead ; mouth very wide, large. Cutting-teeth of each jaw 

 cylindrical, elongate, projecting, tusk-like. Canines in each 

 jaw very large, obliquely truncated. Limbs weak. Toes 

 4 . 4, nearly of the same length, radiating, all reaching the 

 ground, more or less free. Tail compressed, short. 

 Obesa, lUiger, Prodr. 1811. 



Fam. 8. HIPPOPOTAMID^. 



Hippopotamus, lAnn., Illiger ; Cuvier, Signe Anim. I 



Hippopotamidss, Schinz, Syst. Verz. p. 342 ; Owen, Odont. p. 56B, 



t. 141. f. 4 ; Falconer, Pal. Mem. ii. pp. 405, 406. *■ 



Hippopotamina, Oray, Ann. PhU. 1825 ; Gfiebel, Sdugeth. p. 214. ; 



They live in lakes and rivers ; on the coast they go to the sea and 

 play among the surf. — Kirle, P.Z.S. 1864. 



" Essentially a gigantic Hog." — Owen, Odont. p. 371. 



The fossil genera Hexojproctodon, Falconer, Merycopotamus, Fal- 

 coner, and Choerotherium, Brandt, appear to belong to this family. 



1. HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



Cutting-teeth four in each jaw; premolars-;^ . f, molars f . f =28. 



Hippopotamus, I/inn. S. Nl 



Hippopotamus, § 1. Tetraproctodon, Giebel, Saugeth. p. 217. 



Hippopotamns ampMbius. (Zeekoe or Eiver-horse.) B.M. 



Hippopotamus amphibiiis, lAnn. S. iV. p. 101 ; Gray, last Mamm. 

 S. M. ; Gerrard, Cat. Bones B. M. p. 284 ; P. Z. S. 1849, p. 163, 

 1850, p. 160, 1860, p. 195 ; Smith, Illust. Zool. 8. A. t. ; Blainv. 

 Cstiogr. Onguligr.X,. 1-7 (vai-. du Cap,du S^nfeal, d'Eefvpte") : Petefs. 

 BerUnM(ynatsb,18Bi,^.S67. f>Jf " > 



