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Show 1871.] BIRTH OF A HIPPOPOTAMUS. 257 It was certain that the keeper could not remove the young one without assistance; so I sent for Arthur Thomson, a keeper, and H. North, a helper; and, knowing the great dislike the female Hippopotamus had always shown towards the garden watering-engine, I arranged for the keeper Prescot to wheel it into the house in the direction that, if she followed it, would lead her into the tank or bath. In the event of her so doing, Thomson was ordered to be ready to close the gates upon her, while I proposed to slip into the den and carry off the young one, North being ordered to unlock and lock the gate after me. The attempt was made, and succeeded; for as soon as the female plunged into the water to attack Prescot and the water-engine, he commenced to pump the water into her face and eyes. This caused her to dive, and thus gave me time to escape before she could see what was going on. The picking up and carrying off the young one was not quite so easily managed as I had anticipated, for I was astonished to find the little beast nearly one hundred pounds weight, and as slippery and slimy as an eel. Besides this, it struggled much in m y arms. There was no time to be lost, and by an effort the young one was removed from the house almost as quickly as it had entered it. Placed in a warm room, on a soft bed of hay, and covered with a blanket, it seemed to revive, and, two goats supplying it with plenty of warm milk, readily sucked from a large feeding-bottle a sufficient quantity to cause us to think that we should be able to save its life. But after having taken a second meal it was attacked with convulsions, and died suddenly about 8 o'clock on Thursday night. Since the foregoing was written, through the kindness of Professor Flower I have examined the viscera of the young animal, and have also been informed by that gentleman that the creature had been evidently suffering from inflammation of several of the internal structures for many days previous to its birth. I think, therefore, it is highly probable that this condition will account for its not having sought nourishment from its mother; had it done so, I fully believe she would willingly have allowed it to suck, as we had proof that she was well supplied with milk. In conclusion, I must remark that I have never witnessed any thing like the suspicious, watchful, and determined manner in which this huge creature endeavours to defend her young. She is jealously fond of it; and the great danger of its being killed by her while exhibiting a blind rage on any one approaching, renders the breeding and successful rearing of these animals in captivity a task of extreme difficulty. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1871, No. XVII. |
