I04 8 THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



a vertical partition in the middle line, similar to one shown later on in the figure of 

 the skull of an extinct rhinoceros. 



The following notes on the habits of the American tapirs refer 

 Habits mainly or exclusively to the common species. These tapirs confine 



themselves exclusively to the thickest parts of the forests, carefully avoiding all 

 open spaces, and forming regular pathways along which they travel in search of 

 food and water. In the forest itself it is generally difficult to come across them, but 

 Humboldt and others state that, when traveling on the rivers by boat, tapirs may be 

 often seen in the early morning, when they come to the bank for the purpose of 

 drinking. Although mainly nocturnal, it is stated that in the densest and darkest 

 portions of the forest, tapirs may be encountered abroad during the daytime. They 

 are fond of gamboling in the water and rolling in soft mud, their hides being often 

 thickly plastered with the latter, probably as a protection against the bites of 

 insects. Indeed in many respects their mode of life is very similar to that of swine, 

 although in their more solitary habits they present a closer resemblance to their 

 cousins, the rhinoceroses. Thus the males, except during the pairing season, are 

 said to be completely solitary, and even family parties are but rarely met with; and 

 except when several have been temporarily collected by the attraction of unusually 

 good pasture, it is but very seldom that more than three individuals are seen in 

 company. Tapirs commence to feed in the evening, and probably continue through- 

 out the greater part of the night. 



These animals are slow and deliberate in their movements, usually walking with 

 their snouts close to the ground, and by the aid of scent or sound detecting the 

 presence of foes with extreme acuteness. When frightened, however, they rush 

 blindly forward, crashing through bushes or splashing through water in precipitate 

 flight. The American tapir is an excellent swimmer, crossing the largest rivers 

 with facility, and even diving beneath the surface of the water, although with what 

 object is not ascertained. Not improbably it may also walk along the beds of shal- 

 low rivers and lakes, as was observed to be the habit of a specimen of the Malayan 

 species kept in captivity at Barrackpur. 



The chief sound uttered by the American tapir is a peculiar, shrill whistle, 

 which, according to Azara, has but little volume in comparison with the size of the 

 animal by which it is emitted. This whistle is uttered at all seasons, and is not, as 

 has been supposed, restricted to the pairing season; the Malayan species is reported 

 to give vent to a very similar sound. When suddenly disturbed, the American tapir 

 utters a loud snort. 



Although in general perfectly harmless animals, fleeing precipitately before the 

 smallest dog, tapirs will sometimes attack their enemies fiercely, this being more 

 especially the case with females that have been deprived of their young. In such 

 instances they rush violently at their foes human or otherwise and after knock- 

 ing them down will trample upon and bite them after the manner of wild swine. 



In Brazil, the food of the tapir is largely composed of palm leaves in districts 

 remote from cultivation, but at certain seasons of the year these animals subsist 

 almost exclusively on fallen fruits, while in other districts swamp grasses and water 

 plants form their chief nutriment. In the neighborhood of plantations they 



