are very successful in rearing the animals, but we take care that
they should have facilities for following their natural habits.

I believe you have not been able to rear these beasts in Western Europe.
You might do so by observing their habits, and even by attending to a
few simple precautions. If you were once successful they would increase
rapidly, and you would soon discover their inestimable value.

This is the course we pursue when the animal is reared in confined
situations:

As soon as the female has conceived, a quantity of sand and moss is
placed on the ground at the side of the water. This is done without loss
of time, that the beast may be accustomed to the sight. Shortly, if left
to herself, she will wallow in the mixture, and as soon as the young one
is born, will place it in the sand, covering it over with moss.

As already observed, the female, when running wild in a state of nature,
lays the young one in the sand as soon as it is born, covering every
part of the body, and then overlaying it with moss. On this account, we
take care to deposit the sand and moss where the animal can easily find
them.

The beasts are of a very suspicious nature, and if the sand and moss
were not placed near the female until after her young one was born, she
would be afraid of them.

The mother is treated with great kindness, and is not allowed in any way
to be teased or used harshly.

The hippopotamus is a very nervous animal, and is besides very vicious
and irritable. The female does not easily forget an injury, particularly
when with young. If in any way used unkindly, the effects of the
vexation will endure for a long time after the birth of the young one,
which will come into the world in a weakly state, and will not thrive.
If it does not soon die, the mother will kill it; for, when ill-treated
either before or after parturition, the mother is ordinarily impelled to
destroy the calf. She is often so nervous, that, when with calf, she
cannot bear to be looked at and is then placed apart in an enclosure
reserved expressly for the purpose, which is hoarded round, and no one
but the keeper is allowed to approach her.

In a state of nature, the beast is accustomed to wander over large
tracts especially favoured by sun and light; even the water he swims in
is warmed by the sun. In the gardens in which you strive to rear these
beasts, they are kept in dark miserable places, where the water is cold,
and which the