54 



SKETCH or THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



the day, which it passes in a state of tranquil slumber. 

 During the night, its season of activity, it wanders forth 

 in quest of food, which consists of water-melons, gourds, 

 young shoots of brushwood, &c. Its choice of food is 

 not very limited ; and, indeed, it appears to be as omni- 

 vorous as the hog. Azara, who states that the Guaranis 

 term this animal Mborebi, and the Portuguese of Brazil, 

 Anta, affirms that it devours the barrero, or nitrous earth 

 of Paraguay, and that he has found a quantity of this 

 substance in the stomach. Its senses of smell and hear- 

 ing are extremely acute, and serve to give notice of the 

 approach of enemies. Its voice, which it seldom utters, 

 is a shrill kind of whistle, in strange contrast with the 

 massive bulk of the animal. Of enormous muscular 

 power, and defended with a tough thick hide, the tapir 

 is capable of tearing its way through the underwood in 

 whatsoever direction it pleases : when thus driving on- 

 wards, it carries its head low, and, as it were, ploughs 

 its course. (Figs. 22 and 22.*) 



22. — American Tapir. 



Its fondness for the water is almost as strong as that 

 evinced by the hippopotamus. It swims and dives 

 admirably, and will remain, as we have seen while observ- 

 ing the specimens in the gardens of the Zool. Soc, sub- 



