e hippopotamus is found only in fresh
water in lakes and rivers.

Every one knows that this huge creature is of amphibious habits; and
lives equally well on land, in the water, or even under the water. It
requires air, however, and at intervals rises to the surface to breathe.
On such occasions it usually projects a jet of water from its
nostrils--in other words, it spouts, after the manner of the whales.

It is altogether herbivorous; and grass and the leaves of succulent
plants form its subsistence. A vast quantity of these are required to
sustain it; and a single individual will consume as much as two hundred
pounds' weight in a day.

The hippopotamus, notwithstanding its formidable appearance, is not a
dangerous enemy if suffered to go unmolested, or rather if persons do
not come in its way. When wounded, however, or even intruded upon in
its solitary haunts, it will attack man himself; and a boat or canoe
passing along a river frequented by these creatures is in danger of
suffering a similar fate to that resulting from an encounter with the
great whale--that is, of being tossed out of the water or broken to
pieces.

The River-horse, or Sea-cow (whichever you prefer to call the creature),
is exclusively confined to the African continent; and is found in all
the great lakes and rivers from the Cape Colony to the southern limits
of the Sahara. It is indigenous to the Upper Nile; but does not show
itself in the lower half of that river. In fact, its range appears to
be exactly co-terminal with that of the African elephant.

There is a question about the number of species. For long it was
supposed there was only one, but now it is ascertained that two, or even
more, exist. The hippopotami of the Nile differ considerably from each
other and also from the species known as Sea-cow in South Africa; while
a smaller kind than either has been observed in the rivers of Western
Africa.

The _Rhinoceros_ is altogether a more curious and interesting animal
than the hippopotamus; but, being more common, and oftener encountered
by modern travellers, it is at present less an object of curiosity.

Of rhinoceroses at least seven distinct species are known--three of them
being Asiatic, and four African.

The largest of all is the Indian rhinoceros, which inhabits a part of
Bengal and the countries beyond--Burmah, Siam, and Cochin China. This
species is easily distinguished from the others by the thick rough skin,
which