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, an<I it varies in color in the male from dark leather- brown to bluish gray, more or less spotted. The females usually are of lighter tint, and both sexes are lighter on the belly. The skin is naked except for the bristles on the nuizzle. and a few- tufts of short hair upon the sides of the bead and neck, and on the ears and tail. H contains a great quantity of an oily substance which exudes from the pores; and under excitement this flows out copiously and is tinctured with blood, ])roduc- ing the 'bloody sweat' for which this beast is famous. The "tail is short and laterally com- pressed. Habits and Food. The hippopotamus is most at home in the water, and aquatic vegetation is its natural fare. To this its organization has become particularly adapted. It swims well, makes long excursions, sometimes into open water, and even goes some distance out into the salt estuaries of rivers. It is able to dive quick- ly, but its ordinary method of submergence is quietly to sink to the bottom, where it is said that it may walk about, browsing, for several minutes. To this end not only its nostrils, but its small ears are closed by sphincter muscles, keep- ing out the water; and its infolded lips prevent an inrush of water in feeding. The nostrils and eyes are so high that it need only expose an un- noticeable fraction of the face in order to breathe and look about, while its entire body is safely hidden beneath the surface. The peculiar den- tition and digestive organs have reference to this manner of life, and to a diet of coarse herbage. The enormous mouth, which nuiy open to the ex- tent of four feet, is furnished with numerous ivory-capped grinders, and with powerful rooting and "biting teeth in front. The larger teeth are 8EDLL AND TEETH OF BIPPOPOTAMrB. the tusks or canines, which are curved backward, and have their ends obliquely leveled otT by mu- tual attrition. These tusks and the incisor teeth continue to grow during the life of the animal, and their points turn downward. In this respect these teeth dilTcr from the l)ig's, which form roots. The hi|)[Hi|)otanms cuts grass or corn as if it were done with a scythe, or bites with its strong teeth a stem of considerable thickness neatly through; it also tears up the marsh growth by means of its great tusks. Its food consists chiclly of the plants which grow in shallow waters and about the margins of lakes and rivers; and prob- ably it renders no luiimjMjrtant service in ]>rcvcnt- 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