is very short and
insignificant, and his eyes and ears are very small. They live together
in small numbers, feed chiefly on grass and aquatic plants, and come
forth at night. Each foot has four toes, and each toe a separate hoof;
the nostrils open on the top of the muzzle; their flesh is thought to be
very good to eat, and to resemble pork. A thick layer of fat lies just
under the skin, which the Africans look upon as a great delicacy for the
table. The male is the largest; and two species are said to exist. The
exploits of Mr. Gordon Cumming give us a lively picture of their habits;
but there is nothing in his work which affords the slightest interest in
their mental faculties. The following account from the pen of Captain
Owen who explored so large a portion of the African shores, is the only
instance I have met with which wears the semblance of almost unprovoked
anger on the part of a hippopotamus:--"While examining a branch of the
Temby river, in Delagoa Bay, a violent shock was suddenly felt from
underneath the boat, and in another moment, a monstrous hippopotamus
reared itself up from the water, and in a most ferocious and menacing
attitude rushed open-mouthed at the boat; with one grasp of its
tremendous jaws it seized and tore seven planks from her side; the
creature disappeared for a few seconds, and then rose again, apparently
intending to repeat the attack, but was fortunately deterred by the
contents of a musket discharged in its face. The boat rapidly filled;
but, as she was not more than an oar's length from the shore, they (the
crew) succeeded in reaching it before she sank. The keel, in all
probability, had touched the back of the animal, which, irritating him,
occasioned this furious attack; and had he got his upper jaw above the
gunwale, the whole broadside must have been torn out. The force of the
shock from beneath, previously to the attack, was so violent, that her
stern was almost lifted out of the water, and Mr. Tambs, the midshipman
steering, was thrown overboard, but fortunately rescued before the
irritated animal could seize him."

The hippopotamus, with his shy and secluded habits, may be easily passed
as he lies concealed among the reeds which grow by the side of the
river, but if once he gets into the water, he is always to be detected
by the blowing noise which he makes.

HOGS.

Nature has so strongly marked the wild and the tame Hog with the same
characters, that no hesitation a