336 EFFICIENT PREPARATION IN AMMUNITION AND ARMS. 
“ Occasionally during the day, they were to be seen basking 
on the shore, amid ooze and mud; but shots were most constantly to 
be had at their uncouth heads, when protruded from the water to 
draw breath; and if killed, the body rose to the surface. Vulnerable 
only behind the ear, however, or the eye, which is placed in a prom¬ 
inence, so as to resemble the garret window of a Dutch house, they 
require the perfection of rifle practice, and after a few shots become 
exceedingly shy, exhibiting the snout only, and as instantly with¬ 
drawing it. 
The hide is upward of an inch and a half in thickness, and 
being scarcely flexible, may be dragged from the ribs like planks 
from the ship’s side.” 
'' The track of the hippopotamus may be distinguished from any 
other animal by a line of unbroken herbage which is left behind the 
marks of the feet of each side, as the width of the space between 
the right and left legs causes the animal to place its feet so consider¬ 
ably apart as to make a distinct double track. 
THE HIPPOPOTAxMUS DISAPPEARING FAST, 
'' It may be remarked that the hippopotamus, as well as the ele¬ 
phant and rhinoceros, is fast disappearing in all the countries where 
it exists, before the incessant and destructive war made upon it by 
firearms. It could resist, and for ages did resist, the rude and 
ineffective weapons of savages and barbarians, living and multiply¬ 
ing in spite of them; but the species must soon yield to the destructive 
propensity and power of civilized men.” 
'' After seeing the animal plunging about in his bath, diving 
with ease, and traversing the bottom of the tank as if it were dry 
land, one can the better appreciate the difficulties attending a struggle 
which I recently witnessed: 
There were four of them, three cows and an old bulk They 
stood in the middle of the river, and, although alarmed, did not 
appear aware of the extent of the impending danger. 
'' I took the sea-cow next me, and with my first ball I gave her 
a mortal wound, knocking loose a great plate on the top of her skull. 
She at once commenced plunging round and round, and occasionally 
