CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 11. P ACli YDERM AT A. 641 
ones are mucli longer than tlie others, and those of the lower jaw project forward considerably. 
The canines are very large in- the lower jaw ; they are always worn away at the jjoint by rubbing 
against one another. The molars are six or seven in number on each side, both above and below ; 
they are of a quadrangular form, and exhibit at first numerous triangular tubercles, which, when 
worn down, leave peculiar isolated spots of enamel on the surface of the teeth. The whole form 
and structure of this creature is heavy and unwieldy, even among the Pachydermata ; it is covered 
with a very thick naked skin, which only bears a few bristles upon the lips and at the tip of the 
very short tail. The general color is a leaden brown ; the skin habitually secretes drops of cinna- 
mon-colored sweat. The legs are short and stout, and the feet have four toes, each terminated 
by a hoof. The eyes and ears are small. 
The hippopotamus is exclusively an inhabitant of Afiica, in many of the rivers of which con- 
tinent it is tolerablv abundant. It is a laro-e animal, the males, accordino- to some travelers, 
attaining a length of fourteen or fifteen feet. It feeds entirely upon vegetable substances, crop- 
ping the herbage and bushes on the banks of the rivers, and occasionally visiting the cultivated 
grounds during the night, when it does great damage. It passes most of its time in the water, 
where it swims and dives with great ease, and is said even to walk at the bottom. When the 
head of the animal is below the Avater it rises frequently to blow it out from its nostrils, making- 
it ascend in two jets. On shore, it trots heavily, but with considerable rapidity, and when two 
of them meet on solid ground they frequently fight ferociously, rearing up on their hind-feet, 
and biting one another with great fury, so that, according to African travelers, it is rare to find a 
hippopotamus Avhich has not some of his teeth broken, or the scars of wounds upon his body. 
When not irritated they appear to be quiet and inoft'ensive ; but a very trifling irritation is suf- 
ficient to rouse their anger, when they attack the off'ender most furiously with their teeth ; a hip- 
popotamus which had been touched accidentally by a boat has turned upon it and torn out several 
of the planks, so that it was with difliculty the crew got to shore. A hippopotamus has also been 
known to kill some cattle which were tied up near his haunts, apparently without the slightest 
provocation. 
The flesh of this unwieldy animal is said to be very good, and not unlike pork ; it is in high 
esteem with the inhabitants of South Africa, both native and European. The feet, the tongue, 
and the tail arc the favorite parts, and a thick layer of fat which covers the ribs is held in great 
esteem when salted and dried. It is called Zeekoe-zjjeck ; the name given to the hippopotamus 
by the Dutch colonists being Zeekoe, or Sea-cow. The skin is cut into whips, Avhich are highly 
prized, and the large canine teeth are sometimes used instead of ivory. Specimens of the hippo- 
potamus have been in the London Zoological Gardens and the Garden of Plants at Paris, and in 
other collections. 
In Harris's Sports of South Africa Ave have the folloAving accurate account of the habits of the 
hippopotamus : " This animal abounds in the Limpopo, dividing the empire Avith its amphibious 
neighbor the crocodile. Throughout the night the unwieldy monsters might be heard snorting 
and blowing during their aquatic gambols, and Ave not imfrequently detected them in the act of 
sallying from their reed-groAvn coverts, to graze by the serene light of the moon ; never, howcA^er, 
venturing to any distance from the river, the stronghold to which they betake themselves on the 
smallest alarm. Occasionally, during the day, they Avere to be seen basking on the shore, amid 
ooze and mud; but shots Averc most constantly to be had at their uncouth heads, Avhen protruded, 
from the water to draAV breath ; and, if killed, the body rose to the surface. Vulnerable only 
behind the ear, however, or the eye, Avhich is placed in a prominence, so as to resemble the 
garret Avindow of a Dutch house, they require the perfection of rifle practice, and after a fcAV 
shots become exceedingly shy, exhibiting the snout only, and as instantly Avithdrawing it. The 
flesh is delicious, resembling pork in flavor, and abounding in fat, Avhich in the colony is deserA-- 
edly esteemed the greatest of delicacies. The hide is upward of an inch and a half in thickness, 
and being scarcely flexible, may be dragged from the ribs in strips like the planks from a ship's 
side." 
Gumming says that the track of the hippopotamirs may be distinguished from any other animal 
by a line of unbroken herbage Avhich is left betAveen the marks of the feet of each side, as the 
YoL. I.— 81 
