Hippopotamus

(-pot'a-műs.) [From Gr. hippos, a horse, and pot amos, a river.] (Zool.) The River-horse, a gigantic pachydermatous quadruped, fam. Rhinoceridæ, equal to the rhinoceros in strength, and inferior only to the elephant in size, being from 12 to 20ft. long. It is supposed to be the Behemoth of Job. The head is very large, the legs are short and thick, and the short tusks are harder and whiter than those of the elephant. Its hide is so thick that it is bullet-proof. It lives chiefly in water, and walks at the bottom, raising its head occasionally for respiration. It feeds on grain and vegetables, and, unle attacked or ill-treated, is perfectly harmle . There is only one living species, and that frequents the rivers of Africa. It is sometimes seen in saltwater. The fo il remains of several extinct species have been found. [s. 456]