THE TAPIR. 393 



birds' nests, finds out where the wild bees have 

 laid up their honey, and brings all to her expect- 

 ing brood. 



The young ones when taken are easily tamed, 

 but the old still continue savag'e and incorrigible : 

 the former, after a short time, play with the dogs, 

 follow their masters about the house, but seem of 

 all other animals the most fond of the fire. They 

 often approach it so closely, that they burn them- 

 selves in a dangerous manner. They are some- 

 times also subject to the mange, and have a gland 

 under their tail which scents pretty strongly. 

 The poor of some countries eat their flesh, which, 

 though fat, is at best but rank and ill tasted. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE TAPIR. 



THERE seems to be a rude, but inferior resem- 

 blance between many animals of the old and the 

 new world. The couguar of America resembles 

 the tiger in natural ferocity, though far inferior 

 in its dimensions. The lama bears some affinity 

 to the camel, but is far behind it in strength and 

 utility. The Tapir* may be considered as the 



[* This animal has ten cutting teeth, and ten grinders in each jaw ; be- 

 tween the cutting teeth and grinders there is a vacant space. Its legs are 

 short, and the hoofs small, black, and hollow ; the fore-hoofs are divided into 

 four, and the hind-hoofs into three parts.] 



