WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
always shown towards the garden watering-engine I 
arranged for the keeper, Prescot, to wheel it into the 
house in the direction that would, if she followed it, take 
her into the tank or bath. In the event of her so doing 
Thomson was ordered to be ready to close the gates upon 
her, while I proposed to slip into the den and carry off 
the young one. North having received directions to unlock 
and lock the gate after me. 
The attempt was made and succeeded, for as soon as 
the female plunged into the water to attack Prescot 
and the water-engine he commenced to pump the water 
into her face and eyes. This caused her to dive, and thus 
gave due time to escape before she could see what was 
going on. 
The feat of picking up and carrying the young one was 
not quite so easily managed as I had anticipated. I was 
astonished to find that the little beast was nearly 100 
lbs. in weight, and as slippery and slimy as an eel ; added 
to this, it struggled considerably in my arms. 
Placed in a warm room, on a soft bed of hay and covered' 
with a blanket, it seemed to revive. Two goats supplied 
it with plenty of warm milk, which it readily sucked from 
a large feeding-bottle in sufficient quantity, which caused 
me to think that I should be able to save its life ; but it 
died. 
I will now give a few specimens of the letters I received, 
with hints and remarks of how I should proceed in the 
rearing of the young of the hippopotami. The letters 
speak for themselves, they require no comment from me. 
No. 1. 
“SiK, — It is only by mere accident, as it is called, that I saw 
the report of the death of the little hippopotamus. 
“ I beg to suggest that if the mother be still in milk — that is, 
if her milk be still not dried up — tliat you procure a small 
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