THE RIVER-HORSE, 75

curved forwards; the lips are very thick, the nostrils and
eyes small; the ears small and slightly pointed; the tail
short, thick, and sparingly clothed with hair; the feet are
large, and have four toes, terminated in separate hoofs.
The general colour is dark brown, lighter underneath. The
hippopotamus walks about at the bottom of rivers, raising
its head at intervals for the purpose of respiration: at night
it leaves its watery residence to eat the herbage that grows
on the banks and in the neighbouring pastures; it also
destroys trees, and commits great havoc in the maize, rice,
and sugar plantations. The female produces only one at
a birth, which she nurses with great care; the flesh is eaten
by the Africans, and for this purpose the animal is taken
by pitfalls.

The hippopotamus was formerly known in the lower
regions of the Nile, but is at present seldom found in
Egypt, though continuing to inhabit the rivers of Africa
and the lakes of Abyssinia and Ethiopia. The word “hip-
popotamus”’ is not mentioned in the Bible, but the Behe-
moth, named in Job, ch. xl., is now generally supposed to
be that animal, and, indeed, the description is singularly
applicable. “Behold now Behemoth, which I made with
thee, he eateth grass as an ox: lo, now his strength is in