324 TAMILY TAl'IUIl) .r. ; TAP:!!. 



290. Of the second family, to which the name of TAPIIJID.-E, 

 or tlie Tapir tribe, may he given, no members exist in Europe 

 at the present time ; but i'ossil remains of numerous species, 

 some of them of great size, exist in some localities. The whole 

 family is herbivorous, but in confinement they seem occasionally 

 10 be indiiferent as to the nature of their food. Of the Tapir, 

 ilnvr species are at present known ; two of them being natives 

 of South America, whilst the other is an inhabitant of some of 

 the larger islands of the Eastern Archipelago. In its general 

 form and contour, the Tapir reminds us of the Hog ; but it is at 

 once distinguished by its snout, which is lengthened into a ilex- 

 ible proboscis, that looks like the rudiment of the trunk of the 

 Elephant, and is sufficiently prehensile to grasp fruit or bunches 

 of herbage, or to serve as a hook for drawing down twigs to the 

 mouth (Fig. oT). The anterior feet have four toes, but the 

 posterior only three; and these have only their tips cased in 

 small hoofs. The incisor teeth are six in number; the canines 

 small; and the molars are seven on each side of the upper jaw. 

 and six in the lower. The common American species, which is 

 between three and four feet in height, and from live to six in 

 length, is very extensively spread throughout the warmer regions 

 of South America, where it inhabits deep forest-, leading a soli- 

 tary life, and going in search of food at night. Its enormous 

 muscular power, and the toicjh th" k hide' which defends its body, 

 enable it to tear its way through the underwood in whatever 

 direction it pleases; when i\\\\< driving onwards, it carries its 

 head low. and, as il were, plough- its course. It is very loud of 

 the water, and resorts to it whe;i wounded. Its disposition is 

 peaceful and quiet, and il never attempts to attack either man or 

 beast, unle.-s h;ird pressed; i: is capable of defending itself 

 vi'-rorou.-dv, however, and iiiilids severe wounds with its teeth. 

 The Tapir is occasionally dome>ticatc : d in Cayenne, and is harm- 

 les< and familiar in it- habits. The other South American species 

 is an inhabitant of the mo-t elevated regions of the Andes, and 

 is covered with long, thick, black hair. In some of its charac- 

 ters, it approaches to the lo-.-d l^dlanl/icnuni. 



'<)!. The Indian Tapir cl<> -ly ivseinbles its American reia- 



