The National tribune., 1890-04-10

atoms Of structure in the digestive system
separate its members into the two divisions of
Illuminating and non.ruminating animals, 10
the last of which both hippopotami aud their
relatives. Suiua belong IN virtue of the
anatomy of their digestive organs. This state
ment il not meant to convey the idea that
these creatures are. either in this particular or
otherwise, identical. They present, on the
contrary,
CONSIDERABLE DIFFEnEScEa
and in some respects. swine, and in others
Obosa Tan appelIAtion having reference to the
ungainy head aud general shape OF the hippo
potamusl, have the advantage in structural
specialization.
Among forms of tho kind last mentioned,
the skin, whose color. when the body has been
long ont of water. somewhat resembles that OF
dusty. white rhinocefos. is very thick, bat
like that of the former animal it Is sensitive
aud easily penetrated while its wearer is alive.
In habits, the hippopotamus is one of the most
amphibious Of unguatCs, aud in size 10 ranks
among the largest of that class. There are two
species, both exclusively African, included in
the genus Hippopotamidm. One, the larger, III.
amphibius, measuring ahout Ii feet in the body
and head. and having tail whose average
length is about yard, and much smaller
form tChgropsis), confined To tho west coast of
Africa aud the streams cmptyiug into Lake
Tschad. This species. Ii, iiberiensis, has been
placed apart from its allies by Boidy on account
of tho important organic contrasts to them
which IL exhibits.
There is naturally strict correspondent be-
tween the stomach, Intestinal tract and teeth
of tho hippop0tamus aud the structure of all
these organs indicate It's grass eating habits.
In each jaw, the incsors, which are four in
number aud do not meet In tho center, have
the form of short. straight tusks, while the
CANNES, which are used Tor tearing up the grass
and water plants which constitute its chief food,
have been enormously developed, particularly
the lower ones. and in mature mao animals
may measure 30 inches In length, in cir
cumferencc and weigh, sinRly, IL ponnds Fur
Their, as in all creatures whose aliment is SINH
lar, the articulation Of the lower jaw and the
crown patterns Of tho moar teeth bear witness
TO the manner not only Of procuring but also
of mastcatng food. Accordingly We find that
the former permits considerable lateral motion
and that the latter are appropriately ridgcd.
When the mouth Is closed the large CANNES OF
the upper ft inside those of the lower jaw and
their opposing surfaces are, in all cases. there
fore, more or less worn according To the ali lmals
ago. The ivory of which these are formed
never becomes discolorcd, and Is
on THIS ACCOUNT IN MUCH REQUEST
and very valuable. Living as it does so much
in the water, and being constantly beneath its
surface, the nostrls OF blpp0potami exhibit
notifications due 10 these circumstances. They
are flexible aud large, thus permitting rapid
inspiration aud can be completely closed by
muscular contraction when the body il sub
merged. Likewise tho arrangement of the
wind pipe is such that the animal may fill its
lungs with air, aud exclude water from the
respiratory passages while but small part of
the nose is extruded. Further, the blood is ex-
tremely rich in those red corpuscles by which
the TISSUES are oxygouated, and IL Is thus en-
abled To dispense with atmospheric air for some
time. These blood discs are also found in the
perspiration, unique fact, so faras the writer's
knowledge goes, IN any animal, during health
but one that Is occasionally met with AS Il
pathological phenomenon. As would seem
natural from the physiological function of tho
red corpusoes in question chat Of resupplying
deoxygenized tissucs) their transfer TO sweat
glands chiefly occurs while the bippop0tamus
is under water, and IL is TO this fact that the
dark feshy red " color "almost like raw
meat" as DR.. Scweinfurth describes it, which
the body presents Immediately after emergenee
is due. CESSATION in Obesa lasts for seven or
eighth months, births are single, as q rule aud
the young begin to staggcr about as soon as they
arc born. They require more atmospheric air
than adults aud the calf is, therefore. generally
mounted upon its mothers shoulders, where it
often stands with most of its body above the
surface, while that of the COW Is concealed from
view. Hippopotami consume great quantities
of fat producing food, aud accumulate CORE
spending quantities of adipose matter. The
latter has slight Odor of train OIL but is very
pure, does not solidfy, and after being clarified
will keep for years even III tropical climate.
About the flesh, however, there seems to be
some difference of opinion. Sir Samuel Baker.
for example, looked upon
HIPPopoTAaUs STEAKS
as by no means inferior food, and he asserts
that the soused head is delicious Dr. Holub,
on the contrary, disapproves OF this meat alto
| gether, and DIR. Schwenfurth atrms it to be
| unfit TO eat. Strange as it is, both tho great
hunter and traveller aud the trained scientific
| observers committed themselves TO the same
! inveterate error of nasty generalization. An old
animal of this kind, or one that is out of con.
dition, furnishes poor meat as matter OF course,
but obviously, when these detraetive conditions
are absent the flesh may be very edible, and,