52 



SliKTCn OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



The anterior feet are divided into four toes, the hinder 

 into three, the tips only being cased in hoofs. The skin, 

 which is thick, tough, and solid, is sparely covered, ex- 

 cepting in one species, with very short close hair. The 

 dentition (see Fig. 20) consists of six incisors in each 

 jaw; the canines are small, especially those of the upper 

 jaw, and are separated from the molars by a considerable 



20. — Teetli of Sumatran Tapir. 



interval ; the molars are seven on each side above, and 

 six below, and, until worn down by attrition, the crowns 

 present two transverse ridges. Fig. 21 represents the 

 skeleton of the ordinary American tapir; in general 

 details it approaches that of the rhinoceros. Of the two 

 speciesof tapir peculiar to America, one has been only 

 recently discovered. It was found by Dr. Rbulin in the 

 most elevated regions of the Cordillera of the Andes, 

 and is covered with long, thick, black hair. The bones 

 of the nose are more elongated than in the other species, 

 and Cuvier regards it as approaching in some respects to 

 the fossil genus Palseotherium. 



The Common American Tapir 



{Tapir us American us). 



This species is very extensively spread throughout the 



warmer regions of South America, but especially between 



the tropics, where it inhabits the deep forests, leading a 



solitary life, and seldom stirring from its retreat during 



