"Oh, say, what is this fearful, wild,
Incorrigible cuss?"
"This _creature_ (don't say 'cuss,' my child;
'Tis slang)--this creature fierce is styled
The Hippopotamus.
His curious name derives its source
From two Greek words: _hippos_--a horse,
_Potamos_--river. See?
The river's plain enough, of course;
But why they called _that_ thing a _horse_,
That's what is Greek to me."
_Oliver Herford_.