THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 189 



banks of the shallow rivers of its native land. It attains to 



ten or eleven feet in length, and to five feet, or more, in 



height, being the next largest animal to the rhinoceros and 



the elephant. He is a powerful beast and has been known 



to attack and capsize boats, though when hunted he usually 



sinks to the bottom of the river where he is able to remain 



five or six minutes without rising to the surface for breath. 



The form of his head enables him to lift his eyes and his nostrils 



above the water at the same time without exposing more than 



a slight portion of his head. Thus, while taking in breath 



to sustain him while out of the reach of his enemies, he can 



watch their movements and determiae his course below. His 



hide is very thick and strong and is, therefore, very useful 



for a variety of purposes, while his tusks furnish the dentist 



with the material to supply human deficiencies. 



The Eavint ^^' Gordon Gumming gives the following 



of the vivid description of the haunt of the Hippopotami. 

 Hippopotami. „^j^g ^^^^ ^^^ j ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^.j^^j. ^^ ^^^^ 



sea-cows, taking as usual my double-barrelled rifles. We had 

 proceeded about two miles when we came upon some most 

 thoroughly beaten, old established hippopotamus paths, and 

 presently, in a broad, long, deep, and shaded pool of the 

 river, we heard the sea-cows bellowing. There I beheld 

 one of the most wondrous and interesting sights that a 

 sportsman can be blessed with. I at once knew that there 

 must be an immense herd of them, for the voices came from 

 the difierent parts of the pool; so creeping in through the 

 bushes to obtain an inspection, a large sandy Island 

 appeared at the neck of the pool, on which stood several 

 large shady trees. The neck of the pool was very wide and 

 shallow, with rocks and large stones ; below, it was deep and 

 still. On a sandy promontory of this Island stood about 

 thirty cows and calves, whilst in the pool opposite, and a 

 little below them, stood about twenty more sea-cows, with 

 their heads and backs above water. About fifty yards further 



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