THE TAPIRS. 239 



most of their describers ; inhabiting the thickest 

 forests, and issuing only on the approach of twi- 

 light to feed, after a day spent in sleep or sluggish 

 repose. They feed chiefly on vegetables ; but in 

 confinement are by no means nice in their food, 

 and will even swallow substances altogether 

 extraneous, such as pieces of stick or metal. 

 They are very easily tamed, become familiar, and 

 know their master, and will follow him, even 

 when they are permitted their liberty ; and it has 

 been thought that a little care would train them 

 to become useful beasts of burden, for which thew* 

 immense strength would well fit them. 



The dentition of the Tapirs is different from 

 the other Pachydermes. There are six incisors 

 and two canine in either jaw, seven molar teeth 

 in the upper, and six in the lower jaw. In 

 osteology they approach near to the Rhinoceros 

 and the Hogs. The intestinal canal is simple, but 

 differs remarkably in the American and Indian 

 animals.* 



In the first the stomach is small ; the intestines 

 of moderate length, the ccecum large. In the 

 latter it is the .reverse, the stomach is large, the 

 intestinal canal very long, the ccecum small. The 

 dentition of the two animals is similar.f 



The bodies of the Tapirs are covered with 



* Bennet. t Yarrel, Zool. Journal 



