CUU-CIIEWERS. 39 



Hippopotami, 



The Hippopotamus is a huge hog-Hke animal, living 

 in tile ri\ers of Africa. It measures as much as 

 twehe feet in length. It lives in herds of twenty to 

 forty individuals in the beds and near the banks of 

 rivers, where it finds its food. This is chiefly grass 

 and water plants, of which it consumes an immense 

 quantit)', as its stomach can hold five or six bushels. 

 In places inhabited by man it often does great harm 

 to the fields and gardens, whose products it prefers to 

 the wild \'egetation. 



CUD-CHEWERS, OR RUMINANTS. 



The remainder of the even-toed Ungulates are called 

 Ruminants, from the fact that they chew the cud. 

 The stomach has four divisions. The food goes into 

 the first of these, the paunch, when first swallowed, and 

 is afterwards brought up and chewed again. When 

 swallowed the second time it goes into the true 

 stomach, where it is digested. To this group belong 

 Camels, Deer, Oxen, Sheep, Goats, and Antelopes. 



Camels and Llamas. 



The Camel is a native of Central and Southern Asia, 

 and, from the earliest times, has rendered such impor- 

 tant services to the inhabitants of the East in carrying 

 merchandise across the deserts, that it has been called 

 the "ship of the desert." Its feet are fitted for travel- 

 ing in the sand, being covered with horny pads rather 

 than with hoofs. Its strength and power of endurance 

 are very great, it can live on the coarsest and most 



