THE AMERICAN TAPIR. 



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natural history under the name of Hippopotamus terrestris. But, about 

 the middle of the eighteenth century it began to be better known, and 

 at present we possess very accurate accounts of it, and its habits. 



The Tapir measures about six feet in length from the nose to the tail, 

 and its height to the withers is about four feet. The body is fat, and 

 terminates in a broad rump. The head, which is pretty large, is com- 

 pressed on the sides; the eyes are small; the ears elongated, and the 

 animal can contract or enlarge them ; the nose is prolonged a few inches, 

 in the shape of a trunk. This addition, which is naked and flesh-colored 

 at the tip, can be diminished to half and elongated to double its quiescent 

 length, but is without that movable finger-like extension which is the char- 

 acteristic of the elephant's proboscis ; so it can be of no use in seizing 

 objects or in sucking up water. The Tapir takes its food directly with its 

 mouth ; when it drinks, it raises its contracted trunk in such a way as to 

 prevent its being wetted. The neck is rather long; and the legs are 

 strong and thick. The anterior extremities are terminated in four toes, 

 each of which is provided with a little, short, rounded hoof; the poste- 

 rior extremities have but three toes. The tail is very short and stumpy. 

 The thick, hard skin of this animal is covered with short hair, very close 

 and smooth, of a more or less dark brown, except under its head, its 

 throat, and the tips of its ears, where it is of a whitish color. The male 

 has on his neck a short mane, composed of stiff bristles, of about an inch 

 and a half in length ; this decoration is sometimes seen on the female. 



In the densely wooded regions which line the banks of the rivers of 

 tropical America the Tapir lives alone, hidden in the forests and in thi 

 most secluded retreats. Following always the same ti^ack in its excur 

 sions through the woods, it forms well-trodden footpaths, which thj 

 sportsman can easily recognize. It sleeps during the day, and wanders 

 at night to seek its food. Sometimes, however, rainy weather brings it 

 from its hiding-place during daylight, when it goes to the swamps, in 

 which it delights to wallow, or to the streams, for it is a great water 

 lover, and can swim and dive with an ease which almost justifies the old 

 naturalists in calling it a " river-horse." Although a large animal, and 

 very strongly made, it falls a victim to many destroyers, the jaguar 

 being the most terrible of its enemies. It is said that when the jaguav 

 leaps upon the Tapir's back, the aff'righted animal rushes through the 

 brushwood in hopes of sweeping away its deadly foe, and if it be 

 fortunate enough to gain the river's bank, will plunge into the water, 



