LECltrRE IV. 127 



it only raises its nostrils at intervals, in order 

 to breathe; and coming out by night to graze, 

 feeding entirely on vegetables. Its form is highly 

 uncouth ; the body being extremely large, fat, 

 and round ; and the legs very short and thick : 

 the head very large, with short rounded or very 

 slightly pointed ears, an extremely wide mouth, 

 with teeth of a vast size and strength ; particu- 

 larly the tusks, or canine-teeth of the lower jaw, 

 which are of a curved form, streaked on their 

 outside with numerous furrows, and appear as if 

 obliquely cut off at the tips. These teeth some- 

 times measure more than two feet in length. 

 The skin of the Hippopotamus is smooth, but 

 is thinly covered with short hairs. When the 

 Hippopotamus first_ emerges from the water, it 

 is observed to be of a brown colour, accom- 

 panied by a blueish cast; but when dry, is of 

 an obscure brown. It is naturally of a harmless 

 disposition, but if pursued or wounded, is said 

 to become excessively furious, and to be capa- 

 ble of easily overturning a canoe or boat, and 

 has sometimes been known to sink them, by biting 

 large pieces out of the bottom. The young are 

 capable of being tamed, and we are told by Be- 



