HIPPOPOTAMI. 
449 
of at least twenty hippopotami, their huge, bulky carcases looking, as they stood 
all huddled together, like so many black rocks.” After mentioning that a water- 
buck standing on the further shore soon took alarm, Mr. Selous continues that the 
hippopotami, “ though we were in full view and only about two hundred and fifty 
yards from them, did not seem to notice us, but stood quite motionless and appar¬ 
ently asleep, except that now and then one would move his enormous head slowly 
to the one side or the other. ... At length they heard us talking, and commenced, 
one after the other, to walk into the river. When their bodies were half immersed 
they let themselves down with a splash, and either swam into deep water with just 
the tips of their heads out, or dived out of sight at once ; I suppose there must have 
been a ledge beside which the water deepened suddenly. There were some quite 
small calves amongst them, and these little beasts all ran into the water with a 
splash, whilst the full-grown animals stepped in slowly and sedately.” Similar 
testimony as to the ease with which hippopotami may be approached in undisturbed 
districts is afforded by Sir J. Willoughby in East Africa. When stealthily punting 
on a raft towards a small herd, this writer observes that the hippopotami, “ did not 
seem to mind our approach in the least degree, but continued to enjoy themselves 
by puffing and snorting and blowing water in jets from their nostrils, and now and 
again sinking down, to reappear at the end of two or three minutes, and, with their 
heads half out of the water, to take a look round. When we were within thirty 
yards, they ceased their gambols to gaze with astonishment at what I suppose was 
the first attempt to navigate these waters.” 
On the White Nile Sir S. Baker states, that during the dry season he has seen 
a bend of the river so crowded with hippopotami, that it seemed impossible that 
his steamer would be able to make its way without coming into collision with some 
of the monsters. All, however, managed to steer clear of the path of the vessel, 
which passed through a perfect crowd of snorting and blowing heads. 
Regarding the general habits and haunts of the hippopotamus, Dr. Livingstone 
states, that on the Chobi and other large rivers, the banks are marked by numerous 
furrows made by these animals in ascending during the night to graze on the 
herbage of the adjacent lands; and he adds that as they are guided back to these 
paths solely by scent, if a heavy rain comes on during their nocturnal excursions 
they are unable to find their way back to the river, and stand helpless on the land. 
The males generally remain in company with the females, although a few very 
aged individuals of the former sex may lead more or less solitary lives. “ The still 
reaches,” continues the same observer, “ are their favourite haunts, as elsewhere the 
constant exertion necessary to keep themselves from being carried down the stream 
disturbs their nap. They remain by day in a drowsy yawning state, taking little 
notice of things at a distance. The males utter loud, snorting grunts, which may 
be heard a mile off. The young ones stand on the necks of their dams, and their 
small heads appear first above the surface as they rise to breathe. The dam, 
knowing the more urgent need of her calf, rises more frequently when it is in her 
care. In the rivers of Londa, where they are in danger of being shot, the hippo¬ 
potami gain wit by experience; for while those in the Zambesi expose their heads, 
the others keep their noses among the water-plants, and breathe so quickly as to 
elude all observation.” 
VOL. ii.— 29 
