THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
The first specimen of this uncouth and powerful 
amphibious monster was introduced into the Gardens of 
the Zoological Society in the year 1850. The animal was a 
male, and in the year 1852 a female was received. At 
the present time one of the young bred from this pair in 
1877 is to be found in good health and fine condition 
among the Society’s collection. 
There can be no doubt as to the rapid destruction of 
this animal. It is easily shot, and as it lives in or near 
water it is much sought after. The flesh is considered good 
as an article of food, the hide and tusks are of considerable 
value, and its presence in the rivers is considered undesir- 
able by boatmen and others. The influx of Europeans 
and the civilization of Africa will in a few years be the 
cause of the extermination of this leviathan species, which 
is not likely to be domesticated, or rendered serviceable 
to mankind, like the elephant. 
The first hippopotamus, a male, that arrived in England 
was presented by the Viceroy of Egypt in 1850. He was 
quite small, in fact a baby, and was received in the 
Zoological Gardens accompanied by an Arab keeper 
named Hamet, who remained in the Gardens about a 
year, at the end of which time the resident keeper took 
charge of the beast. For the first two years the animal 
was quiet and good-tempered, allowing me and others to 
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