io 5 o THE UNGULATES, OR HOOFED MAMMALS 



In some parts the South- American Indians track the tapir to its lair, and shoot 

 it as it lies. In Paraguay, when the hunters capture a young tapir of too large a 

 size to be carried on a horse in front of the rider, they bore a hole in one side of the 

 snout through which they pass a thong, and the animal will then follow readily 

 enough when led. 



Next to man, the worst foes of the tapir are the larger cats; the 

 FOCS jaguar preying largely on the American species, and the tiger attack- 



ing its Malayan cousin. It is said that when an American tapir is attacked by a 

 jaguar, it immediately rushes into the thickest cover in the hope of dislodging its 

 assailant, which from the thickness of the animal's hide is unable to obtain a firm 

 hold on its back. It is further reported that the tapir is not unfrequently success- 

 ful; and, in any case, many of these animals are killed with the marks of jaguar's 

 claws on their backs. 



Before leaving these animals, it may be mentioned that the whole of 

 Succession of tlie f our p remo i ar teeth on each side of the upper jaw are preceded by 

 milk-teeth, whereas in the pig and other Even-Toed Ungulates the 

 first of these teeth never has a deciduous predecessor, as, indeed, is the case with 

 other groups of Mammals. Some rhinoceroses, however, resemble the tapirs in 

 having the first premoiar preceded by a milk-tooth, although this seems to be 

 merely an individual, and not a specific peculiarity. 



THE RHINOCEROSES 

 Family RHINOCEROTID^ 



Although inferior in length of body, and probably also in weight, to the hippo- 

 potamus, the larger species of rhinoceroses exceed it in height, and, therefore, vie 

 with it in claiming the position of being the Mammals next in point of size to the 

 elephants. Unlike the tapirs, the various species of rhinoceroses, all of which are 

 now confined to the Old World, differ very markedly from one another in structure 

 so much so, indeed, that by many writers they are divided into several genera; 

 and there is also considerable disparity in point of size. In spite, however, of these 

 minor differences, all these animals are so much alike in general appearance, that it 

 seems preferable to include the whole of them in the single genus Rhinoceros. All 

 the existing rhinoceroses differ from tapirs in having but three toes on both fore 

 and hind-feet, but since there are some extinct species with four toes to the front 

 limbs, this point of distinction cannot be regarded as a very important one. The 

 presence of one or two horns in the middle line of the front of the head might at 

 first sight be regarded as a more valuable diagnostic characteristic, but since these 

 appendages are always or frequently absent in the female of one of the living Indian 

 rhinoceroses, and are invariably wanting in certain extinct kinds, it will be obvious 

 that other features must be sought that will distinguish these animals from the tapirs. 

 Such characteristics are to be found in the cheek-teeth, of which 

 two from the upper jaws of certain extinct species are represented 

 in the figures on the next page. In the molar teeth of the upper jaw the two outer 



