KUDA-AYER, OR MALAYAN TAPIR.—TVapirus Malayanus 
The colour of the adult Tapir is a uniform brown, but the young is beautifully 
variegated with yellowish-fawn spots and stripes upon a rich brown-black ground, reminding 
the observer of the peculiar tinting of the Hood’s marmot. The neck is adorned with a 
short and erect black mane. The Tapir can easily be brought under the subjection of 
man, and is readily tamed, becoming unpleasantly familiar with those persons whom it 
knows, and taking all kinds of liberties with them, which would be well enough in a little 
dog or a kitten, but are quite out of place with an animal as large as a donkey. 
THE second species of Tapir is found in Malacea and Sumatra, and is a most conspicuous 
animal, in consequence of the broad band of white that encircles its body, and which at a 
little distance gives it the aspect of being muffled up in a white sheet. 
The ground colour of the adult Malayan Tapir is a deep sooty-black, contrasting most 
strongly with the greyish-white of the back and flanks. The young animal is as beautifully 
variegated as that of the preceding species, being striped and spotted with yellow fawn 
upon the upper parts of the body, and with white below. There is no mane upon the 
neck of the Malayan Tapir, and the proboscis is even longer in proportion. In size it 
rather exceeds the preceding animal. In many of its habits the Malayan animal is exactly 
similar to the species which inhabits America, but it is said that although the Kuda-Ayer 
is very fond of the water, it does not attempt to swim, but contents itself with walking on 
the bed of the stream. Although a sufficiently common animal in its native country, it is 
but seldom seen, owing to its extremely shy habits, and its custom of concealing itself in 
the thickest underwood. 
The hide of the Tapir is employed by the natives for several useful purposes, but the 
flesh is dry, tasteless, and not worth the trouble of cooking. The term Kuda-Ayer is a 
Malayan word, signifying “river-horse,” and it is also known by the name of Tennu. 
