186 Hippopotamid^. MAMMALIA. Hippopotamid^. 
tip; tiie extremity of the anterior horn being sharp, 
ment into the bath not being sloped, it experienced 
and worn away in front by friction on the ground. 
some difficulty in raising itself from the water ; and 
whilst the mother was engaged in assisting it to clamber 
Family III.— HIPPOPOTAMIDiE. 
up the steps, she bruised and otherwise injured the 
body to such an extent that the poor little creature 
The Hippopotamuses formerly occupied an extensive 
died the same evening. The second juvenOe behemoth 
area of distribution, as may be gathered from the 
perished from injuries inflicted by the mother some days 
numerous fossil remains occurring in the tertiary beds 
after its birth. In the hope of rearing a >'oung Hippo- 
of Great Britain and Europe. At least five or six 
potamus in England, the Zoological Society has spared 
distinct species have been indicated. Taking our 
neither pains nor expense to render the pair in their 
living African example as a tj^e of the family, its prin- 
menagerie comfortable in each other’s society. It 
\ 
cipal distinguishing characteristics may be described 
is satisfactory to observe that the favoured couple 
as follows. The body is clothed with an almost naked 
live amicably together ; but whether it be oiving to 
skin ; the abdomen nearly reaching to the groimd. 
the chilling influences of our changeable climate, or 
The head is broad and flat, and furnished with thirty- 
to prudential motives resulting from hippopotamine 
eight or forty teeth ; there being eight incisors, four 
reasonings, or to other circumstances which invalidate 
canines, and from twenty-four to twenty-eight molars. 
the procreative function — we believe we are correct 
according to the age of the animal. The inferior 
in stating that no reciprocations of afibction have yet 
incisors project horizontally forwards, the central pair 
appeared sufficiently demonstrative to afford a belief 
being the longer. The worn crovms of the large 
that the authorities in question are at present likely to 
canines are perfectly smooth and opposed vertically. 
be reivarded for their trouble. In the wild state these 
The posterior molars are large and complicated. The 
animals display extreme solicitude for their young. 
ears are remarkably short ; the head terminating 
which they carry on their necks while in the water; 
anteriorly in a broad, abrupt muzzle, whilst the nos- 
and, as the calves cannot remain long submerged. 
trils are much elevated. Tlie feet are tetradactylous. 
the mother rises more frequently to the surface when 
the digits being armed with small hoofs. The tail is 
her offspring is with her. Whilst tending her young 
short. Hippopotamuses are heavy, awkward-looking 
the female cannot be carelessly approached, and she 
animals on land ; but they display a singular agility and 
will vigorously defend her offspring. All who have 
gracefulness of motion in water. Aquatic plants, and 
read Dr. Livingstone’s “ Travels ” will remember the 
especially grasses, constitute the bulk of their food. 
partial capsize and wetting he and his Makololo com- 
THE HIPPOPOTAMUS {Hippopotamus amphibius ) — 
panions sustained from the infuriated rush of a female 
Plate 25, fig. 81 — is an animal which has always been 
Hippopotamus, “whose young one had been speared 
regarded with considerable interest, although its uses 
the day before.” Mr. Andersson and Captain Owen 
to man are not of the highest order. It is familiarly 
record similar catastrophes. The former says — “ An 
known as the River-horse ; and is the Barnick of the 
immense Hippopotamus, vfith its calf, rushed out from 
Nubians, the Sea-cow or Zee-Koe of the Cape Colonists, 
amongst the reeds where she had been concealed. 
and the Imfoohoo of the Caffi’es and Matahili ; it is 
and, passing under our raft, almost immediately after- 
probably also the Behemoth of sacred history. A full 
wards made her appearance on the surface of the water. 
groivn male Hippopotamus sometimes attains a length 
Upon seeing this, I lost no time in firing ; but, though 
of nearly twelve feet, whilst the girth of its body mea- 
to all appearance mortally wounded, we lost sight of 
sures scarcely less. The hide exhibits an inky-brown 
her at the time. A few minutes afterwards, however. 
colour generally, being at the same time more or less 
on coming to a bend of the river, we fell in with the 
tinged with a fleshy redness about the mouth and 
canoe that had been sent on bottom upwards ; and 
inferior parts. Tlie latter tint is very marked in young 
found, to our great consternation, that the wounded 
individuals. The habits of this extraordinary creature 
beast in going down tlie stream had caugiit sight of 
have been studied from the earliest times, and almost 
the canoe, and, instantly attacking it, had with one 
every African traveller of modern date has contributed 
blow of her head capsized it. The men saved them- 
something to our knowledge of its powers. Burchell, 
selves by swimming; but all the loose articles were 
Burckhardt, Harris, Smith, Cumming, Livingstone, 
either lost or spoiled by the water.” In the instance 
Andersson and others, have witnessed its sportive wiles 
mentioned by Captain Owen, the boat was completely 
in the reedy streams of its native land ; whilst at home 
smashed, and sank ; but, as in Dr. Livingstone’s case. 
naturalists have been amply rewarded by watching the 
being close to the shore, all succeeded in landing 
behaviour of the two fine examples preserved in the 
safely. The Hippopotamus is nocturnal and gregari- 
Zoological Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park. The 
ous in its habits. Large herds, to the number of 
Parisians enjoy a similar advantage at the Jardin 
thirty or forty and upwards, are frequently seen at one 
des Plantes of the French capital, and they have 
spot, some snoozing on the bank, and others noise- 
even witnessed the birth of two young ; but on 
lessly gliding through the limpid waters. They love 
both occasions the jealous mother sacrificed her 
a still reach of the stream, “ and prefer to remain by 
much admired offspring ! The first was born in 
day in a drowsy, yawning state ; and though their 
May 1858, and its death resulted, perhaps, rather from 
eyes are open they take little notice of things at a dis- 
accident than intention ; for, we are informed, that 
tance.” Dr. Livingstone adds, that “ the males utter 
after swimming about a while it attempted to get on 
a loud succession of snorting grunts, which may be 
dry ground ; but tlie descent from the sleeping apart- 
heard a mile off.” Among the various modes ol 
