OEDEE OF PACHYDEEMATA. 
135 
active in the water, where they lose, by the pressure of the water, 
a great portion of their weight. And so they pass all day in the 
water, in which they swim and dive with extreme facility. When 
swimming they only let the upper surface of their heads he seen, 
from the ears or occiput to the surface of the nostrils, which allows 
them to breathe, to see all round them, and to hear the slightest 
noises. In breathing, they spout out noisily, in the form of 
irregular jets, such water as has become introduced into their 
nostrils. This spouting announces to the hunter the presence of 
the Hippopotamus. 
The word Hippopotamus, which signifies River-horse (lttttoc, 
horse, 7 roTa/nor, river), proclaims to us that the habits of this 
Pachyderm are essentially aquatic. 
At the approach of night the Hippopotamus visits the river- 
bank to look for its food. The moment it sets foot in the shallow 
parts of the river, it performs certain natural functions, at the 
same time beating with its tail the surface of the water. Mr. 
Andersen, an English traveller, says that he has seen as many 
as twenty or thirty of these animals in a row thus engaged. 
The public round the great basin in the Hippopotamus enclo- 
sure in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris, laughs much at this 
singular manoeuvre in which this monstrous animal indulges ; 
only it takes care to remove to a respectful distance, for fear 
of receiving a spattering that would be anything but agree- 
able. 
The Hippopotamus feeds on young stalks of reeds, little boughs, 
small shrubs, and water plants, also on roots and succulent bulbs. 
Its cry is hoarse, but of incredible depth, power, and volume. 
Those who have heard it are not astonished at the assertion of 
Adanson, who affirms that the cry of this Pachyderm had been 
distinctly heard from a distance of a quarter of a league. 
The habits of this animal are peaceable ; its disposition is, in 
general, mild and inoffensive ; it only turns vicious when it is 
attacked. 
Hippopotamus hunting is performed in different ways. Its 
enemies surprise it at night, on its leaving the waters, when it 
comes to browse in the meadows and the neighbouring plains ; or 
attack it by day in the river, either wth harpoons or guns, assail- 
ing it when it comes to the surface to breathe. The unfortunate 
