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AMPHIBIOUS ANIMAL；
living in the water and out of it； under the water； or on the top of it； floats on its surface with perfect ease； or beneath the surface； midway between the top and the bottom。 In their natural state these animals are wild and ferocious； though on the land； they are not very formidable； but when pursued they fly to the rivers；
DESCEND TO THE BOTTOM AND WALK ACROSS；
frequently appearing on the opposite side without the least indication of their course on the surface of the stream。 If exasperated by assaults； in the water they are the most
FRIGHTFUL ANTAGONISTS；
their gigantic proportions and herculean strength； giving them power over every opposing force； frequently destroying whole boat…loads of men and their boats； crushing with their huge jaws everything that comes in their way。 In the Museum the specimen here exhibited has an
ARTIFICIAL OCEAN OR RIVER；
where he is to be seen in all his natural peculiarities； floating on； and swiming beneath the surface； walking on the bottom several feet beneath； exhibiting； in short； all the peculiarities of his nature； and to perfect the scene； native
ARABIAN KEEPER； SALAAMA；
who is himself a curiosity as a specimen of that historic tribe of men； who exhibits all the stolidity and Arabian dignity of that Oriental race； the only man who can control or exhibit his hippopotamiship； is in constant attendance。 They are both to be seen at all hours； DAY and EVENING。
This is the
FIRST AND ONLY REAL HIPPOPOTAMUS
ever seen in America。 He is engaged at a cost of many thousand of dollars； and will remain
A SHORT TIME ONLY。 A SHORT TIME ONLY。
Also just obtained at great expense； and now to be seen swimming in the large tank in the Aquarial Hall；
A LIVING SHARK；
beside a great variety of other living Fish； Turtles； &c。； &c。
WHAT IS IT？ OR； MAN MONKEY。 SEA LION； MAMMOTH BEAR SAMSON； MONSTER SNAKES； AQUARIA； HAPPY FAMILY； LIVING SEAL； &c。
The Lecture…Room Entertainments embrace PETITE DRAMA； VAUDEVILLE； BURLETTA and FARCE。 By a company of rare musical and dramatic talent。 Miss DAWRON； DOUBLE…VOICED VOCALIST； Mlle。 MATILDA E。 TOEDT；
The Talented Young Violinist； &c。
Admission to all； 25 cents； Children under 10； 15 cents。
Nor did the monster fail to receive much other notice in the press。 Said one writer： 〃Nothing discomfitted by the sudden death that overtook the gentle and loving whales； Mr。 Barnum has again invested untold heaps of money in a tremendous water…monster。 The great tank has again a tenant； and the great public have huge amphibious matter for their wonderment。 The new curiosity comes to us staggering under the unwieldy name of Hippo…potamus。 He is a comely gentleman； fair and beauteous to look upon； and the strange loveliness of his countenance cannot fail to captivate the crowd。 His youth； too； gives him a special claim to the consideration of the ladies； for he is a little darling of only three yearsa very baby of a hippopotamus in fact； who； only a few months ago； daily sucked his few gallons of lacteal nourishment from the fond bosom of mamma Hippo； at the bottom of some murmuring Egyptian river。 The young gentleman is about as heavy as an ox； and gives you the idea that he is the result of the amalgamation of a horse； a cow； two pigs； a seal； a dozen India…rubber blankets； and an old…fashioned horse…hide covered trunk。 Big as he is； unwieldy as he is； strange； uncouth； and monstrous as he is； he appears after all to be most mild and even…tempered。 In truth； he is no more vicious than a good…natured muley cow； and if by chance he should hurt anybody； he would have to achieve it much in the same manner that such a cow would； by running against him； or rolling over upon him。 So that the red…breeched individual； who so valiantly gets over the railing and stands by the side of young Hippo； doesn't； after all； do a deed of such superhuman daring； for all he does it with such an air of reckless sacrifice of self for the public good。 The hippopotamus is certainly one of the most interesting and attractive of all the strange creatures ever yet caught by Mr。 Barnum； and offered for the delectation of the paying public。 He is well worth a visit； and an hour's inspection。 He receives daily； from 9 A。M。 to some time after dark。〃
Having now a good supply of salt water Barnum greatly enlarged his aquarium； which was the first show of the kind ever seen in America。 He exhibited in it living sharks； porpoises； sea…horses and many rare fishes。 For several seasons he kept a boat cruising the ocean in search of marine novelties。 In this way he secured many of the beautiful angel fishes and others that never had been seen in New York before。 He also purchased the Aquarial Gardens in Boston； and removed the entire collection to his Museum。
The story of another of Barnum's greatest hits must be told in his own words： 〃In December； 1861；〃 he related； 〃I was visited at the Museum by a most remarkable dwarf； who was a sharp； intelligent little fellow； with a deal of drollery and wit。 He had a splendid head； was perfectly formed； and was very attractive； and； in short； for a 'showman；' he was a perfect treasure。 His name； he told me； was George Washington Morrison Nutt； and his father was Major Rodnia Nutt； a substantial farmer； of Manchester； New Hampshire。 I was not long in dispatching an efficient agent to Manchester； and in overcoming the competition with other showmen who were equally eager to secure this extraordinary pigmy。 The terms upon which I engaged him for three years were so large that he was christened the 30；000 Nutt； I； in the meantime； conferring upon him the title of Commodore。 As soon as I engaged him； placards； posters and the columns of the newspapers proclaimed the presence of 'Commodore Nutt' at the Museum。 I also procured for the Commodore a pair of Shetland ponies； miniature coachman and footman； in livery； gold…mounted harness； and an elegant little carriage； which； when closed； represented a gigantic English walnut。 The little Commodore attracted great attention； and grew rapidly in public favor。 General Tom Thumb was then travelling in the South and West。 For some years he had not been exhibited in New York； and during these years he had increased considerably in rotundity and had changed much in his general appearance。 It was a singular fact； however； that Commodore Nutt was almost a fac…simile of General Tom Thumb； as he looked half…a…dozen years before。 Consequently； very many of my patrons； not making allowance for the time which had elapsed since they had last seen the General； declared that there was no such person as 'Commodore Nutt；' but that I was exhibiting my old friend Tom Thumb under a new name。
〃Commodore Nutt enjoyed the joke very much。 He would sometimes half admit the deception； simply to add to the bewilderment of the doubting portion of my visitors。
〃It was evident that here was an opportunity to turn all doubts into hard cash； by simply bringing the two dwarf Dromios together； and showing them on the same platform。 I therefore induced Tom Thumb to bring his Western engagements to a close； and to appear for four weeks； beginning with August 11； 1862； in my Museum。 Announ