LONG-NOSED TAPIR. 105 



Of shy and inoffensive disposition, the Hippopotamus is 

 believed never to exert his strength, unless for the purpose 

 of repelling injury. It is even said, that he is capable of 

 being tamed. Belon states, that he saw one at Constan- 

 tinople, so gentle, that it was sometimes allowed to go 

 loose, and would eat from the hand of his keeper. The 

 tusks of the Hippopotamus are much harder than ivory ; 

 and, from the property of preserving their colour, and not 

 becoming yellow, they are considered very valuable in the 

 manufacture of false teeth. 



The head of this animal is extremely broad and large, 

 and the mouth of immense width : the teeth, also, are of 

 vast size and strength. The eyes and ears are both small. 

 The body is stout and clumsy, thinly covered with short 

 hair, of a brownish colour. The legs are short and mas- 

 sive, having four small rounded hoofs on the edge of each 

 of the feet. The tail is about a foot in length, and 

 almost a foot in girth at* the origin, but tapers towards 

 the extremity. 



42. TAPIR TRIBE. 



There is only one known species of Tapir. It is 

 confined entirely to the hotter parts of South Ame- 

 rica. 



Long-nosed Tapir. Like the hippopotamus, this ani- 

 mal plunges into the water in order to escape from danger, 

 and can continue there for a great length of time ; but 

 this does not form its constant retreat. In feeding, 

 which it does chiefly during the night, on shrubs, fruit, 

 and plants, it uses its long, projecting nose, in the same 

 manner as the rhinoceros applies his upper lip, to grasp 



F 5 



