ance.

of them; and used almost to ridicule the natives on account of the timidity they showed when these beasts made their appearBut on my return journey I very frequently encountered the hippopotamus; more than once I narrowly escaped with life, and found that the men had good reason to fear this truly formidable animal.

The sagacity of the hippopotamus is very considerable. The habits of the animal are opposed to our becoming intimately acquainted with it; yet its adroitness in guarding against assailants, in avoiding pits dug purposely to entrap it, and in migrating from localities where it may have discovered ambuscades, all are evidence that it is far from the stupid animal it is frequently described.

The hippopotamus is gregarious, and is usually found in troops of four, five, or six, and as many as twenty or thirty. It is amusing to watch these animals when congregated; and see them alternately rising and sinking as if impelled by some invisible agency; all the while snorting tremendously and blowing the water about in every direction. At other times they will remain perfectly motionless near the surface, with the whole or part of their heads protruding. In this position they look at a little distance like so many rocks.

The hippopotamus is a nocturnal animal, and seldom or never feeds during the day. He usually passes most part of the day in the water; but it is somewhat doubtful if this be not rather from necessity than choice. Indeed, in more secluded localities, one most commonly sees it reclining in some retired spot... As it is said, in the Book of Job, of behemoth (which is supposed to mean the hippopotamus), "he lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reeds and fens; the shady trees cover him with their shadows, the willows of the brook compass him about "... I have not unfrequently found the animal in this situation, and once shot an immense fellow while fast asleep with his head resting on the bank of a river.

The flesh of the hippopotamus is highly esteemed, and with justice. The tongue is reckoned a delicacy; and the fat is very excellent, and forms an excellent substitute for butter. In general, the flesh of wild animals has a peculiar and often strong flavor, but that of the hippopotamus is an exception... The hide is also much in request, and forms no mean article of commerce in the Cape Colony. The ancient Egyptians used it largely in the manufacture of shields, helmets, &c. But the most valuable part of the hippopotamus is its teeth (canine and incisors), which are considered greatly superior to elephant ivory, and when perfect and weighty have been known to fetch

as much as a guinea a pound. This ivory is chiefly used for artificial teeth.

The natives are accustomed to harpoon the hippopotamus in a somewhat similar manner to that practised with the whale. At the appointed time the men assemble at the rendezvous; and after everything has been duly arranged, and the canoes needed for the prosecution of the hunt drawn up on the raft, the latter is pushed from the shore and afterwards abandoned entirely to the stream, which propels the unwieldy mass gently and noiselessly onward... As soon as the position of the hippopotamus is ascertained, one or more of the most intrepid of the hunters stand prepared with harpoons, whilst the rest make ready to launch the canoes from the huge raft, should the attack prove unsuccessful. The bustle caused by preparations gradually subsides; conversation is carried on in a whisper, and everyone is on the look-out... The snorting and plunging become every moment more distinct; but a bend in the stream still hides the animal from view. The angle being passed, several dark objects are seen floating listlessly on the water, looking more like half-sunken rocks than living creatures. Ever and anon one or other of the shapeless masses is submerged, but soon reappears on the surface... On glides the raft with its sable crew, who are now worked up to the highest state of excitement. At length, the raft is in the midst of the herd, which appears quite unconscious of danger. Presently one of the animals is in immediate contact with the raft...Now is the critical moment. The foremost harpooner raises himself to his full height to give the greater force to the blow, and the next instant the fatal iron enters with unerring accuracy the body of the hippopotamus.

The wounded animal plunges violently, and dives to the bottom; but all his efforts to escape are unavailing. The line or the shaft of the harpoon may break; but the cruel weapon once imbedded in the flesh, owing to the thickness and toughness of the hide, cannot be withdrawn. Andersen.

AFRICAN MONKEYS ON MARCH.

ABOUT half way across a plain we were traversing, runs a beautiful stream, which coming down from the hills to the west of Mardemas, crosses the road, forming many pretty cascades and eddies with the large stones that occupy its bed; and, dashing onward, falls into a deep ravine, or crack in the plain, where at length it joins the Mareb... On the north side of the stream

are two copses or plantations, both growing so regularly, and the different trees so well distributed for effect of mass and color, that you might easily deceive yourself into the idea of the whole scene being carefully arranged by some landscape gardener of exquisite taste. Had it really been so, he could not have chosen a prettier spot, nor one where his labor would have been more profitably bestowed, than at the half-way halt on the wide and monotonous plain we were crossing. From the vicinity of water the grass round these plantations was a bright green, unlike the dry hay of the plain, and this formed no slight addition to its merits both in the eyes of the mules and their masters.

The ravine down which the brook fell was well wooded, and the trees were filled with the "tota," a beautiful little greenish-grey monkey, with black face and white whiskers. I followed a troop of these for a long time, while the porters and servants were resting, merely for the pleasure of watching their movements... If you go tolerably carefully towards them, they will allow you to approach very near, and you will be much amused with their goings-on, which differ little from those of the large no-tailed monkeys. You may see them quarrelling, making love, mothers taking care of their children, combing their hair, nursing and suckling them, and the passions, jealousy, anger, and love, as distinctly marked as in men.

The monkeys have their chiefs, whom they obey implicitly, and they practise a regular system of tactics in war, pillaging, &c. These monkey forays are managed with the utmost regularity and precaution... A tribe, coming down to feed from their haunt on the mountain, brings with it all its members, male and female, old and young. Some, the elders of the tribe, distinguishable by the quantity of mane covering their shoulders like a lion's, take the lead, peering over each precipice before they descend, and climbing cautiously to the top of every rock or stone, which may afford them a better view of the road before them... Others have their posts as scouts on the flank or rear; and all fulfil their duties with the utmost vigilance, calling out, at times, apparently to keep order among the motley pack which forms the main body, or to give notice of any real or imagined danger. Their tones of voice on these occasions are so distinctly varied, that a person much accustomed to watch their movements will at length fancy, and perhaps with some truth, that he can understand their signals.

The main body is composed of females, inexperienced males, and young people of the tribe. Those of the females who have

small children carry them on their backs... Unlike the dignified march of the leaders, the rabble go along in a most disorderly manner, trotting on and chattering, without taking the least heed of anything, apparently confiding in the vigilance of their scouts... Here a few of the youth linger behind to pick the berries off some tree, but not long, for the advancing rearguard forces them to regain their places. There a matron pauses for a moment to suckle her offspring; and, not to lose time, dresses its hair while it is taking its meal.... Another younger lady, probably excited by jealousy or by some sneering look or word, pulls an ugly mouth at her neighbour, and then uttering a shrill squeal highly expressive of rage, vindictively snatches at her rival's leg or tail. This provokes a retort, and a most unladylike quarrel ensues, till a loud bark from one of the chiefs calls them to order... A single cry of alarm makes them all halt, and remain on the alert, till another bark in a different tone reassures them, and then they proceed on their march.

Arrived at the corn fields the scouts take their position on the eminences all round, while the remainder of the tribe collect provision with all expedition, filling their cheek pouches as full as they can hold, and tucking the heads of corn under their armpits... They show equal sagacity in searching for water, discovering at once the places where it is most readily found in the sand, and then digging for it with their hands, relieving one another if the quantity of sand to be removed be considerable. M. Parkyns.

SNAKES.

We will divide all snakes whatever into two separate families, and no more, viz. those which have poisonous fangs and those which have none.

The poisonous fangs are invariably in the upper jaw, but they are not fixed on the bone. They are always curved downwards like the blade of a scythe. There is a little opening on the convex part near the point. From this opening to the point which is as sharp as a needle, the fang is quite solid, but hollow from it to the root... This point may aptly be styled the pioneer of death as it makes the wound, into which the poison of the irritated serpent flows through the hollow part of the fang. It is the fatal weapon which causes a snake to be so much dreaded and condemns the whole race to universal detestation; although, in fact, not one snake in ten has been armed by nature with the deadly fang. Still as all snakes are more

or less of the same form, especially when viewed at a distance, every individual is held in horror-the guiltless suffering equally with the guilty.

Armed with a poison fang, the snake at one single stroke avenges itself on the unfortunate animal which has trodden upon it, or has put it in bodily fear, by disturbing its repose. When not in readiness to inflict a wound, these two poison fangs assume a recumbent position so as not to interfere with the action of the ordinary teeth, which are firmly fixed: they are very small and most admirably formed to seize their prey and to send it down into the stomach... All snakes have these teeth, used only for the purpose of snatching; as mastication or grinding of food in the mouth cannot be performed by them. The prey is laid hold of by these crooked little teeth in the first instance, after which it is slowly swallowed, without undergoing any change after entering the mouth.

At the root of the two poison fangs, are smaller ones, but much too pliable and tender to inflict a wound. They appear to be a provision by nature, in case accident or disease should render the mature fangs unserviceable. Take away the mature fangs and immediately the snake is rendered harmless.

Those amusing knaves who profess to be snake-charmers, always take care to have these fangs extracted before they exhibit their wonderful powers in the presence of an assembled multitude. If they dared to insert their hand into the mouth of a snake possessing these fangs uninjured, a bite would be the certain consequence and either death or excruciating pain, the result... Snake-charmers taking advantage of the universal horror in which all serpents are held, contrive to manage the thing to a nicety, either by extracting the poisonous fangs or by making free with those snakes which they have ascertained have no fangs at all. In both cases those impudent rogues known as snake-charmers, are perfectly free from danger; and as they find by experience that snakes are very docile animals, they easily train them to their own liking, until they become as playful and familiar as kittens.

It would be difficult to demonstrate, why poisonous fangs have been given by nature to some snakes and denied to others. If, for the purpose of defence, then we might look for them in all snakes. So far as I have been able to observe, they are seldom brought into action by the snake which possesses them.

Snakes are not revengeful, neither are they prone to be the aggressors. I would hazard a conjecture, that snakes in capturing their food, very seldom, if ever, make use of their poison