PACHYDERM ATA. 161 



That they naturally are fond of the aquatic element, is shown 

 by the fact that if the mother be shot dead just after calving, the 

 young one will immediately make for the water. The natives har- 

 poon them in a manner similar to that adopted with the whale ; 

 if killed outright the animal sinks, but in half a day reappears. 

 The flesh is highly esteemed ; the tongue is regarded as a 

 great delicacy, and the fat of the animal forms a capital substi- 

 tute for butter. 



The hides of these animals form no mean article of commerce in 

 the Cape Colony ; in Northern Africa they are made into whips for 

 the dromedary, and also for punishing refractory servants. The 

 ancient Egyptians used the hide largely in the manufacture of 

 shields, helmets, javelins, etc. But the teeth, (canine and inci- 

 sor,) are the most valuable part of this animal. They are con- 

 sidered much superior to Elephant's ivory, and when perfect and 

 heavy, (say from five tc eight pounds each,) have been known to 

 bring about five dollars a pound. They do not readily turn yel- 

 low, as is frequently the case with Elephant's ivory, and on that 

 account are more valuable for artificial teeth. 



Medicinal qualities are attributed to certain portions of the 

 body of the River Horse. These animals are easily domesti- 

 cated but are very voracious. One of them now in the Regent's 

 Park Gardens, (London.) when first shipped at Alexandria, 

 Egypt, and yet comparatively a "baby," consumed daily the 

 milk of two cows and three goats. This portion, until supple- 

 mented with Indian corn, did not, however, suffice to satisfy his 

 enormous appetite. " On his arrival at the gardens, oat-meal 

 was substituted for Indian corn ; and the change, with an extra 

 supply of milk, seemed to give the gigantic infant great satisfac- 

 tion." Vegetable diet was by degrees administered in place of 

 milk * fa the present time the animal is fed on clover, hay, corn, 

 chaff, bran, mangel wurtzel, carrots and white cabbage. The 

 three last named vegetables constitute his favorite food. On a 

 daily allowance of 100 Ibs. of this kind of food, he thrives aston- 

 ishingly well, as is proved by the fact that weighing 1,000 Ibs. 

 when he first arrived, he now weighs more than 3,000 Ibs. Not 

 less than six bushels of chewed grass was found in the stomach 

 of one examined by Mr. Burchell. 



Tapirus. The 'TAPIR. 



Of this genus of Pachydermatous quadrupeds there are three 

 species ; two of them found in South America, the other in Sum- 

 atra and Malacca. The general characters of this genus are the 

 following ; the molar teeth, which are seven on each side above 

 and six below, " have their crowns crossed by two transverse and 



