OEDER OP PACHYDEEMATA. 13u 



active in the water, where they lose, by the pressure of the water, 

 a great portion of their weight. And so they pass all day in the 

 water, in which they swim and dive with extreme facility. When 

 swi mm ing they only let the upper surface of their heads be seen, 

 from the ears or occiput to the surface of the nostrils, which allows 

 them to breathe, to see all roimd them, and to hear the slightest 

 noises. In breathing, they spout out noisily, in the form of 

 irregular jets, such water as has become introduced into their 

 nostrils. This spouting announces to the himter the presence of 

 the Hippopotamus. 



The word Hippopotamus, which signifies River-horse (nriroq, 

 horse, 7rora/uor, river), proclaims to us that the habits of this 

 Pachyderm are essentially aquatic. 



At the approach of night the Hippopotamus visits the river- 

 bank to look for its food. The moment it sets foot in the shallow 

 parts of the river, it performs certain natural functions, at the 

 same time beating with its tail the Surface of the water. Mr. 

 Andersen, an English traveller, says that he has seen as many 

 as twenty or thirty of these animals in a row thus engaged. 

 The pubHc round the great basin in the Hippopotamus enclo- 

 sure in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris, laughs much at this 

 singular manoeuvre in which this monstrous animal indulges ; 

 only it takes care to remove to a respectful distance, for fear 

 of receiving a spattering that woidd be anything but agree- 

 able. 



The Hippopotamus feeds on young stalks of reeds, little boughs, 

 smaU shrubs, and water plants, also on roots and succulent bulbs. 

 Its cry is hoarse, but of incredible depth, power, and volimie. 

 Those who have heard it are not astonished at the assertion of 

 Adanson, who affirms that the cry of this Pachyderm had been 

 distinctly heard from a distance of a quarter of a league. 



The habits of this animal are peaceable ; its disposition is, in 

 general, mild and inoffensive; it only turns vicious when it is 

 attacked. 



Hippopotamus hunting is performed in different ways. Its 

 enemies surprise it at night, on its leaving the waters, when it 

 comes to browse in the meadows and the neighbouring plains ; or 

 attack it by day in the river, either wth harpoons or guns, assail- 

 ing it when it comes to the surface to breathe. The unfortunate 



