THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 45 



which it feeds ; but it has not tne finger-like appendage 

 which is seen at the end of the Elephant's trunk. Three 

 species of the Tapir are known; two of which are natives 

 of South America, and the other of the Islands of the 

 Indian Archipelago. 



It is very fond of water, to which it resorts when in 

 danger or wounded ; it is mild in it's habits, but defends 

 itself bravely with its teeth when attacked. Tapirs have 

 four toes on their fore feet, and three on those behind. 



The Rhinoceros (Fig. 15) is a large and powerful 

 animal, and above all others seems to deserve the name 

 " thick skinned ;" for his skin is so thick, and so very hard, 

 that the hunters have to employ bullets which have been 

 hardened with tin, as ordinary bullets would have no effect. 

 In fact, a spear will only pierce it in some parts which 

 are thinner than others. Some of the species of the 

 Rhinoceros belong to Asia and its islands, and some to 

 Africa. The best known of these is the Indian. Almost 

 every one has heard of the horn of the Rhinoceros, but it 

 is scarcely correct to term it a horn, for it is not made of 

 the substance known by that name, nor has it any con- 

 nection with the skull, excepting that the bones under it 

 are very strong and arch-like, to support its weight, and to 

 resist the shock of the violent blows which the rhinoceros 

 gives with its powerful weapon. This horn, then, is made 

 up of hair-like fibres, closely matted together, forming a 

 substance very much like that we call whalebone. The 

 horn is scarcely visible in the young animal, and it takes 

 several years to grow to its full size. The Rhinoceros is so 

 very keen in its powers of smell and hearing, that it is a 

 difficult thing to attack him ; for when alarmed he retreats 

 to his jungle, tearing up or trampling down everything 

 before him ; but when compelled to defend himself, he 

 does so with great fury, using his horn with the most 

 frightful effect, 



