Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/112

HIPPOPOTAMUS. 96 HIPPOPOTAMUS. sis), a pygniy in size and more swinelike in tmbit.s. The Common Hippopotamus. This is, next to tile elephant, the hnlkiest of laml niainninls. OKI males are from 12 to 14 or more feet long, stand nearly four feet high at the shoulder, and weigh about four tons. The body is elongated, barrel- shu|)ed. and the belly nearly touches the ground, while the swollen, ugly head seems too heavy even for the massive neek, and the animals, when out of the water, usually rest the chin upon eaeli other or some support. The body is carried upon sliort pig-like legs, having four toes upon each foot, each covered with a round, black hoof, and rest- ing flat iiM>n the ground, but connected by webs. The skin is two inches thick in some places, is spongy, like that of a walrus, rough, warty, and covered with a network of fine wrinkles, anrcvcnt- ing slow streams from being choked tip by the luxuriance of tropical vegetation. It often, how- ever, leaves the water, chiclly by night, to feed on the banks, and makes inroads on cultivated fields, devouring and trampling the cr(q)s. As consider- able quantities of such fare must be consumed in order to obtain sullicient nutrition, the hippopota- nuis possesses an enormous stomach, the a.xial length of which is eleven feet, while the greater curvature measures fifteen feet. It fills nearly the entire length of the body, and is divided into three distinct compartments, of which the third is cylindrical, with the pylorus almost in the pelvis. It is mainly in this third compartment that as- similation occurs. These beasts are gregarious; herds of a dozen or twenty g-atber where food is plentiful, and they seem to remain in one locality all their lives im- less nuich disturbed. During the day they lie hidden, ustntUy asleep, on some marshy islet, and l)etray their presence, if at all, by their snorting, coughing, or grunting, which in anger becomes a hoarse roar. It is at night that they are most active, feed most, and leave the water to graze on shore or invade neighboring fields of millet and the like. Their excursions sometimes extend seven or eight miles in a night, and regular paths are trodden through the waterside jmigle, in which the negroes dig pits or arrange deadfalls for the capture of the animal. Usually only one ofTspring is born annually, after a gestation of TV> mimths. The mother takes it into the water imnu'diately. but. as it is unable to swim, sup- ports it upon her neck until it learns how to take care of itself; she also protects it most assidu- ously, not only from crocodiles and other enemies, but from the rage of the males, who will kill in- fants unless prevented. The young nurse under water, and continue to grow for five years, after which they may live twenty-five or more years. Though the brain of this animal is very small and its life a dull one. it is by no means stupid. It quickly learns, when much hunted, not to ex- pose itself, nor to indvilge in a whale-like snort when it rises to breathe. Its .scent apparently is very keen, and its vigilance great. Captives learn the names and faces, voices and customs of their keepers, and exhibit much general intel- ligence. They are naturally very timid, yet cu- rious, and subject to fits of panic or rage. Hence small boats are always endangered by going near them: and even large steamboats have been at- tacked. . wounded or enraged hippopotamus is regarded by sportsmen as perhaps the most dan- gerous beast to be encoimtered. Pure maliee seems frequently to dictate their actions. The natives more often get them by strategy than by bold attack. The negroes cat the flesh and fat, and make some use of the hide. By white men the animals are shot mainly for sport and near the coast for the sake of the hide, otit of which coverings for handles (shrunk on), bull-whips, and polishing wheels are made; also for the