310 MAMMALIA— HORSE. 



and seldom goes far from the borders of rivers or lakes. He swims and 

 dives with singular facility. When he is threatened, pursued, or wounded, 

 he plunges into the water, and remains there till he has got to a great 

 distance, before he re-appears. These customs, which he has in common 

 with the hippopotamus, have made some naturalists imagine him to be 

 of the same species ; but he differs as much from him in nature, as he is dis- 

 tant from him in climate. To be assured of this, there needs no more than 

 to compare the description we have now recited, with that of the hippopota- 

 mus. Although the tapir inhabits the water, he does not feed upon fish ; 

 and, although his mouth is armed with twenty sharp incisive teeth, he is 

 not carnivorous. He lives upon sugar-canes, grasses, the leaves of shrubs, 

 and various kinds of fruit ; and does not make use of what nature has 

 armed him with against other animals. He is of a mild and timid nature, 

 and flies from every attack or danger : when, however, he is cut off from 

 retreat, he makes a vigorous defence against dogs and men. His usual 

 attitude is that of sitting on his rump like a dog ; and his voice is a kind 

 of whistle. The flesh is wholesome food. He may be tamed, and is then 

 very gentle and docile. This animal is commonly found in Brazil, Para- 

 guay, Guiana, and in all the extent of South America, from the extremity 

 of Chili to Columbia. 



A species of tapir, which has recently been discovered, is very common 

 in the island of Sumatra and the forests of Malacca. Its body is of a dirty 

 white, while the head, legs, and tail are of a deep black. This species has 

 no mane, and its proboscis is from seven to eight inches long. 



Amons the numerous fossil remains of a former world, are found frag- 

 ments of tapirs of enormous size. One of these extinct species, the gigantic 

 tapir, must have been more than equal to the elephant in magnitude. 



THE HORSE. 1 



The horse is not known in its pristine state. The natural disposition 

 of these animals is not ferocious, they are only high spirited and wild; and 

 though superior in strength to the greatest part of animals, yet they never 

 attack them ; and if they are attacked by others, either disdain them or 

 trample them under their feet. They go also in bodies, and unite them- 

 selves into troops, merely for the pleasure of being together; for they are 



1 Equus cabdttu8, Lin. The genus Eqiius lias six upper and six lower incisors ; two 

 upper and two lower canines, or sometimes none in the females; twelve upper and twelve 

 lower molars. Molars furrowed on each side, with flat crowns and several ridges of enamel; 

 a void space between the canines and molars ; upper lip capable of considerable motion ; 

 eyes large ; ears rather large, pointed, erect, and moveable ; feet terminating in a solid 

 hoof; tail with long hair, or a tuft at its extremity ; two inguinal mammae. 



