. The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;. Mammals. THE HIPPOPOTAMI. 54& they reach a field, they cross it at a run, and if they arrive at the banks of a river, they do not hesitate an instant, but swim across it. I saw them crossing the Paraguay River at a place where it required about half an hour to do so. The herd keeps together in a close throng, the males in advance, each mother female having her young behind her. The noise made by the herd can be heard from afar, not only on account of the dull, hoarse sounds made by the ^be Ibippopotami. NINTH FAMILY: Hippopotamid^. The
. The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;. Mammals. THE HIPPOPOTAMI. 54& they reach a field, they cross it at a run, and if they arrive at the banks of a river, they do not hesitate an instant, but swim across it. I saw them crossing the Paraguay River at a place where it required about half an hour to do so. The herd keeps together in a close throng, the males in advance, each mother female having her young behind her. The noise made by the herd can be heard from afar, not only on account of the dull, hoarse sounds made by the ^be Ibippopotami. NINTH FAMILY: Hippopotamid^. The Hippopotamus {Hippopotamus amphibius) is- very much clumsier than any of the other Artiodac- tyla and is, besides one niuch smaller relative (the. Liberian Hippopotamus, which is yet little known^ and occurs in Upper Guinea) the only living repre- animals, but still niore by reason of the crackling of sentative of a distinct family, the Hippopotami (Hip the branches which they break in their impetuous ; The Peccaries search for food both day and night, and it is probably the lack of suitable food which actuates them in their more extensive wanderings. All kinds of arboreal fruit and roots furnish their usual fare. Their teeth are so strong that, as Schomburgk says, they can easily open the hardest of palm-seeds. In inhabited countries they fre- quently make inroads on plantations and do great mischief to the crops. They are said also to eat Snakes, Lizards, worms and grubs, besides vege- table food. In their move- ments and character they ex- hibit an affinity to the Wild Boars, but show neither the voracity nor uncleanliness of the latter; for they never eat }' more than they require and \ seek water only during pe- ' riods of the most intense ; heat, and then they wallow only in pools. During the day they hide in hollow tree- trunks or between loose roots; when they are hunted, they always flee to such hiding places. Their perceptive senses are weak, their ment
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1895
