THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
Hippopotamus amphibius. 
Plate XXVII. 
Although in former geological epochs Hippopotami of several species ranged throughout Europe and Asia, 
from England to the Himalaya, this peculiar and well-defined form is now confined entirely to Africa, and 
numbers probably but two species. The second of these is much smaller in size, seldom weighing more than 
500 or 600 pounds. It was discovered in the St. Paul’s River in the interior of Liberia, where it is abundant 
within one hundred and fifty miles of the coast. It was first described in 1844, by Dr. Morton, of Philadelphia, 
under the name Hippopotamus liberiensis, from skulls in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of that 
city, casts of which were transmitted to the Zoological Society, and to most of the Scientific bodies in Europe. A 
complete skeleton was subsequently received by the Academy, and is one of fhe ornaments of their magnificent 
osteological collection, but, strange to say, no specimen of this animal has yet reached our Museums. 
The larger Hippopotamus amphibius inhabits almost every river of the East and South, from which the 
advances of man have not driven it; and on the Western Coast considerable numbers occur at least as high 
up as the Gambia. Along the North Coast there is no suitable haunt but the Nile. This river—the historic 
cradle of Behemoth—in its remoter streams still gives shelter to untold herds, and supplies us with the ivory 
which reaches us through Alexandria. 
After many unsuccessful negociations at the Cape, and on the AVest Coast, to obtain a living specimen of 
this singularly interesting animal, the Zoological Society were fortunate enough to conciliate the favor of the 
Viceroy of Egypt, through the influence of the Hon. C. A. Murray, and a male was captured, by H.H. order, in 
the AVhite Nile, about the month of July, 1849. This animal was successfully transported from Alexandria, 
whither it had been sent down by the Viceroy, to the Society’s Establishment in the Regent’s Park, and arrived 
there on the 25th of May, in the following year. He then measured three feet in height, and about six feet six 
inches in length. The comparatively rapid development of the larger Pachyderms, has been satisfactorily 
proved by the opportunities of observation afforded by this animal and a young elephant which came into the 
Society’s possession in 1851: and the evidence thus obtained is, as far as it goes, entirely in contravention of 
the received belief on this subject. The Hippopotamus, at the age of six years and a-lialf, expanded to four 
feet seven inches in height, three feet eight inches in thickness at the shoulder, and to eleven feet in length. 
In the summer of 1854, and in fact only four days before the death of Abbas Pasha, a female 
Hippopotamus was transmitted by H.H. to the Society, in fulfilment of his promise to Mr. Murray, through 
his successor the Hon. F. W. Bruce; and they thus had the good fortune of including in their collection the 
first pair of Hippopotami which have been seen together in Europe since the exhibitions of the Roman Circus, 
when the Emperors accumulated them with other Zoological wonders, not for information, not for purposes of 
art or economy, but for senseless and brutal slaughter. 
The artificial circumstances in which the Hippopotamus is placed in the Establishment of the Society, and 
of the National Menagerie in Paris, have had no evil influence on either the health or growth of this species; 
and we look forward with some degree of confidence to a long and favorable acquaintance with the animals 
which have thus re-appeared in the public spectacles of Europe after an interval of 1,500 years. 
The pencil of Mr. AVolf has so copiously illustrated the action of the Hippopotamus, that little remains to 
be said on the subject. It may be remarked, however, that when under the water his motion is rapid and 
adroit, avoiding obstacles with extreme nicety: and the peculiarities of his structure, considered in reference 
to his habits, afford one of the most beautiful illustrations of adaptation to a particular end, which can be 
found in the whole range of nature. 
The muscular action by which the nostrils are closed (not dissimilar to the same structure in the Seal) is 
one of the most obvious of these: and not less interesting is the singularly beautiful provision for withdrawing 
the prominent eye-ball into safety, on its approach towards any dangerous substance. 
The Hippopotamus in confinement is capricious in temper, and in his affections. Commencing with a love 
for his keeper, Hamet Saffi el Canaana, so intense that ho could not sleep without touching him, and so jealous 
that he avenged his occasional absences, while on board the steam-ship Ripon, with ingeniously mischievous 
resentment; commencing with a personal attachment so strong, which he has only modified and made less 
demonstrative towards his present attendant, he has learnt to hate as well. There are individuals whose 
appearance always excites his wrath; and certain classes of persons, especially laborers and workmen wearing 
linen-jackets. The inveterate feeling against the latter is probably traceable to the discomfort he experienced 
from them at the time his present habitation was in the course of construction: his distinction of individuals 
is more difficult to account for. The gentleman towards whom he most constantly expresses his displeasure, 
maintains that he never “gave his fat friend any cause of offence whatever, except that he one day addressed 
to him some expressions in Arabic which were certainly not complimentary.” 
