Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus is fully equal to the rhinoceros in size, and is not le formidable. In figure the hippopotamus more closely resembles an unwieldy ox than any other animal. A male hippopotamus has been known to be 17 feet in length, seven in height, and 15 in sircumference. The head is very large, being 314 feet in length; the mouth is amazingly wide, the. ears small, pointed, and lined with fine short hairs; the eyes and nostrils are small; the lips very thick, broad, and beset with a few scattered tufts of short bristles; the body is thinly covred with very short whitish hair, nore sparingly distributed on the un- OO —__—_—— der parts; the tail is short, slightly compre ed, and almost bare; the legs are short and thick; the feet large, the toes four, each furnished with a hoof, and all resting on the ground; the skin is very thick and of a dusky color. The oe ten is confined to Africa, and abounds most in the lakes and rivers of Aby in i a and the eel regions; but the animal is also found in considerable numbers in the Gambia, Niger, ete. The great strength of the hippopotamus would render it one of the most formidable of quadrupeds were its disposition ferocious; but it is comparatively mild and gentle, except under great provocation or when wounded. When excited, however, its fury is remarkable; it often destroys boats with its teeth, or upsets them by raising them on its back. There is no doubt that it can be tamed. Live specimens are to be seen in the Zod- L Gardens, New York, and elsewhere, and even in traveling menagerjes. In manners the hippopotamus resembles somewhat the hog. His sleeping place is usually muddy islands overgrown with reeds; in these places also the female brings forth. She goes with young nearly eight months, and produces but one at a birth. She is often seen in the rivers with her calf on her back. The hippopotamus is mainly a nocturnal animal, especially in regions where it is hunted with vigor, While it is resting in inactivity various insect-eating birds wander about on its back hunting out the numerous parasites which infest it. These birds are also said to act as sentinels in giving it warning of appears danger. he Liberian hippopotamus, found in Western Africa, is a much smaller and lighter animal, blackish above and whitish below. Its length is_ only about six feet. The remains of seyeral extinct species have been discovered, Hiproof, a roof, the ends of which slope so as to have the same inclination to the horizon as its other two sides, being thus of a triangular form.; Hiram, a King of Tyre, who sent to congratulate David on his acce ion to the throne, and aided him in building his palace (II Sam. y: 11; I Chr. xiv: 1). He was the father of Abibaal of secular history. Also a king of Tyre, a frandeoe of the former Chr. ii: 14), and like him a friend of David. He congratulated Solomon at the commencement of his reign, and furnished e ential aid in palling the Temple.